Galaxy Resources will be the first mine site in Australia to install solar generation tracking technology which will supplement its diesel power generation on-site.
The company will install 15 large solar panels and two wind turbines at its lithium operation in Ravensthorpe.
The tracking features will improve photovoltaic (PV) conversion efficiency by more than 40 per cent over conventional fixed solar panels.
"Our renewable energy installation will remove about 190 tonnes of CO2 emissions from the mine site each year which is the equivalent of planting 19 hectares of forest every year," says Iggy Tan, Galaxy Resources managing director.
"The capital cost of the installation has already been factored in to the Mt Cattlin A$79 million construction budget and provides an attractive payback."
Renewable energy generation from wind, solar and wave is, by nature, variable and often inconsistent. When coupled with energy storage systems such as large banks of lithium ion batteries, there is the potential for a competitive energy source.
"Electric vehicles are now moving from a concept to a reality with many car manufacturers planning hybrid or electric models in the coming years. The only reason this is happening is the development of technology associated with lithium batteries," Tan says.
"These high density powerful batteries have allowed laptops, mobile phones and power tools to be smaller, lighter and with a longer lifespan in the last few years. This same technology is being applied to electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf EV and the Mitsubishi iMieV, which will dramatically reduce running costs and exhaust emissions."
Galaxy is on track to commission its lithium mine in Ravensthorpe by the third quarter of this year and produce lithium carbonate at its wholly owned Chinese plant by the end of the year.
The solar generation tracking technology will generate a total 214 MWhr per year of clean green energy.
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