The world is inevitably moving towards becoming more green in the movement in Solar Energy. Thermal solutions such as HFO, Diesel, and other fuel options are becoming less popular for commercial and industrial uses. With this in mind, it begs the question: What other forms of energy are available to use?
One of these forms of energy us renewable energy the most common uses of renewable energy in the mining industry include:
- Wind
- Solar
- Biodiesel
- Geothermal energy
- Hydropower
- Hydrogen and fuel cell energy
For the purposes of this article, our focus will be on solar energy.
The idea of using renewable energy on a mining site, and in this case solar energy, is not a new concept. Over the last ten years, the idea of using solar energy as a hybrid or even as a primary energy source of energy has quickly become an accepted solution for the African mining sector and is becoming the “new normal.”
What is Solar energy and How does it Work?
Solar energy uses the sun’s radiation to create concentrated solar power or photovoltaic power.
Solar panels also commonly known as photovoltaics, catch the solar energy from the sun and convert it into electricity. The solar panels are made up of small solar cells, which are made from semiconducting materials, such as silicon.
When the sunshine hits this silicon material it causes photons, to knock off free electrons, finally producing a flow of electricity.
Contrary to popular belief it is not necessary for the weather to be sunny for the solar panels to capture light, though they work best in sunnier countries and/or locations.
An electric field has to be established for the panels to work. This is done by using other materials such as boron and phosphorous, these materials work together with the silicon to create negative and positive charges. PV cells are made up of monocrystalline silicon or polycrystalline.
Solar panels are comprised of the following materials:
- Ethylene-vinyl acetate or EVA as a temprature and humidity resistant cover
- A polymer back sheet to regulate temprature
- A glass sheet to protect it from impact
- An aluminium frame
- A junction box as its central system
For a solar panel to produce just one single solar module a significant amount of energy is needed. And this is the case for all stages of solar including; mining, manufacturing, transportation, etc.
Solar Energy in Africa right now
The future of solar energy in Africa has seen great growth over the last few years. The continent has seen growth of over 1.8 GW of new solar installations, with 1.4 GW related to photovoltaic (PV) installation, this has been considered from the 786 MW that had been connected in 2017. In 2016, South Africa had 1,329 MW of installed solar power capacity and this capacity will is expected to reach 8,400 MW by 2030.
To meet changing energy demands, Africa will have to increase their renewable energy penetration. A Group called International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) predicted that electricity capacity will triple by 2050. With these pressures, a few African countries have started to implement renewable energy solutions and goals. For example:
- Morocco installed a 500MW solar power plant project and plans on sourcing 42 percent of its power from renewable sources.
- South Africa’s De Aar solar energy farm powers 100,000 homes.
- Nigeria’s 30 percent renewable energy target by 2030.
- Senegal recently unveiled its first utility-scale wind farm which will account for 15 percent of the country’s energy mix.
But even with these countries making these innovations in the energy sector and especially in the renewable energy side of the industry, the continent has only installed small amounts of renewable energy capacity, well below the margin recommended by IRENA.
The advantages of Solar Energy
Low Environmental Impact
Solar energy has reduced the impact on the environment by a substantial amount, compared to fossil fuels. Its greenhouse gas emissions are inconsequential as solar power does not require any fuel combustion.
Also, although concentration solar thermal plants (CSP) are inefficient in their water usage depending on the type of technology being used, the necessary technology significantly increases efficiency while photovoltaic (PV) solar cells do not need any water when generating electricity.
Energy Independence
The sun is an abundant material that the earth has, and it shines 24/7, this makes every single country a potential energy producer, this will allow for greater energy independence and security. Solar energy doesn’t only promise to bring security and independence at the national level, but solar panels can be installed on individual homes, providing power that does not depend on being connected to a larger electrical grid.
The Disadvantages of Solar Energy
Intermittency
One of the biggest problems that solar energy technology poses is that energy is only generated while the sun is shining. For example, if we take a look at how the sun shines and its patterns, we only have a few hours of good sunlight.
That means night-time and overcast days can interrupt the mining site’s supply of energy, cause a dip in its productivity, resulting in a loss of money. As the global capacity for solar power continues to rise, nations like Japan and other global leaders in solar energy technology are focusing on developing adequate energy storage to deal with this issue.
Land Use
Another concern with solar energy is that it calls for a large about of land, and to get this land would cause damage to plants and wildlife. While solar PV systems can be fixed to already existing structures, larger utility-scale PV systems may require up to 3.5 to 10 acres per megawatt and CSP facilities require anywhere from 4 to 16.5 acres per megawatt. However, the impact can be reduced by placing facilities in low-quality areas or along existing transportation and transmission corridors.
Scarcity of Materials
Most solar technologies call for rare materials in their production which are becoming more scarce. But this is not the problem of CSP technology, rather the primary problem lies in PV technology.
And this is not the lack of known reserve, it is rather the fact that the current production, cannot meet the current demand as well as the future demand. Many of the rare materials are by-products of other processes rather than the focus of targeted mining efforts.
Recycling PV material and advances in nanotechnology that increase solar-cell efficiency could both help boost supply, but perhaps finding material substitutes that exist in greater abundance could play a role.
An Environmental Downside
The one environmental downside to solar technology is that it contains many of the same hazardous materials as electronics. As solar becomes a more popular energy source, the problem of disposing of hazardous waste becomes an additional challenge. However, assuming the challenge of proper disposal is met, the reduced greenhouse gas emissions that solar energy offers make it an attractive alternative to fossil fuels.
With the information that has been provided, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. With this in mind, it would not be viable to use solar energy on your mining site as your only and/or primary use of energy.
Instead of solar-only solutions, other alternative solutions would be HFO, Diesel, Natural Gas, and Hybrid solutions. Various companies have thrived in the sector, for USP&E. USP&E specializes in hybrid solutions which combine thermal power as baseload with the solar and battery components. Due to the drive towards renewable energy, obtaining funding for these types of plants are easier and in some instances, USP&E has been able to enter into IPP agreements to sell power to the mines on a tariff basis.
USP&E has been involved in power generation and providing thermal solutions to various companies since 2002 and has received nothing but positive client references from many of the world’s most respected companies. USP&E has provided these solutions in the following territories: North America, Dubai, Lebanon, England, Mali, Burkina Faso, Botswana, and Johannesburg.
