The clean energy revolution could stand to gain many supporters when it's proven to work effectively for big business. Now, the mining industry is looking towards alternative energy to fuel their pursuits, with some interesting and prosperous results.
As reported by cleantechnica.com, renewable solar and wind power is up to 70% more cost-effective for the mining industry than diesel fuel - a startling revelation. With many remote mining areas amenable to wind and unhindered sunlight, as well as factoring in the cost of NOT having to truck fuel out to the far-flung sites, the benefits of going green begin to add up considerably.
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| Dig this: it's a bright future thanks to solar power (and other renewables.) (Image courtesy energymanagertoday.com.) |
One Australian mining site uses solar power to the tune of offsetting some 600,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Another Alabama steel mill is run mainly on solar power, and one of the world's preeminent copper mining companies is set to follow suit with a 70 MW solar array. It's not just for hippies anymore. If the metal crews are into it, what's to stop the rest of society?
For those who would be interested in arming their business with the might of the sun, there exists an online aggregator of clean tech called Renewables And Mining. It contains information on "Photovoltaics, concentrated photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, solar thermal, and wind power" for comparison to assess what might work best for a particular type of industrial site. Why spend tons when you can invest in the sun? For those who work at removing some of the precious things the environment has to offer, why not harness a similar energy for the harvesting itself?
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| Even old mines can get in on the usefulness! (Image courtesy spiegel.de.) |
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