With the help of ABB and Epiroc, the Swedish mining company Boliden said it recently deployed the first fully battery-electric truck trolley system on an 800-m-long underground mine test track with a 13% incline at the Kristineberg mine in northern Sweden.
The achievement, which brings the industry one step closer to a modern, all-electric mine, will allow the mine to extract ore with a lower carbon footprint per ton of material moved. Beyond reducing carbon emissions, the developers believe the system could improve the underground working environment, with less emissions, noise, and vibration while reducing the total cost per ton.
“Over the past three years, we have collaborated closely with the ABB and Epiroc teams to bring the electric mine of the future one step closer,” said Peter Bergman, general manager of Boliden Area Operations. “The most important thing for us is of course that the technology works in our operations, but we also see added value that we together with our partners can drive technology development so that the system can be used in other mines. We are proud to have taken this concept to a live installment.”
Each partner has provided a unique set of expertise to this development process, clearly demonstrating the value of industry collaboration. Epiroc has added dynamic charging to its proven battery-electric Minetruck MT42 SG and battery system, and the trolley solution is equipped with ABB’s DC converter, HES880 inverters and AMXE motors to enhance the power. The truck features a trolley pantograph connected to an overhead catenary line, a concept that is highly suitable for long-haul ramps. The electric trolley line gives additional assistance to the battery-electric mine truck on the most demanding stretches up-ramp while fully loaded, enabling further reach and battery regeneration during drift, which increases productivity drastically for a mining operation.
ABB created the infrastructure from grid to wheel, including the electric truck trolley system design and the rectifier substation for the test track. The definition of standards and vehicle interface was jointly developed by the project partners.
To design a solution that could adapt to voltage fluctuations along the system, ABB collaborated with its partners to build a digital twin to simulate all scenarios. The result is a dynamic trolley system, with intelligent switchgear, measurements and transparency with the inbuilt ability to adjust power where it is needed at any given moment.
“In a short space of time, we have implemented and delivered technology to not only reduce CO₂ emissions, but substantially extend travel distance for battery-electric driven vehicles on heavy ramp haulage, reduce operating costs, and improve the health and safety of mining environments,” said Wayne Symes, president of Epiroc’s Underground division.
“Seeing the industry’s first battery electric truck trolley system live is not only the result of a collaborative achievement with Boliden and Epiroc, but it is truly an industry milestone,” said Max Luedtke, global business line manager-mining for ABB. “We launched the ABB eMine concept of methods and solutions to bring electrification to the whole mining operation, from the grid to the wheel, and the installation at Kristineberg demonstrates the power of these capabilities.”
The project is supported by funding from the Swedish innovation agency Vinnova and their initiative ‘Sustainable Industry’ and will contribute to Boliden’s vision to be the most climate-friendly and respected metals provider in the world.
Boliden intends to implement a full-scale, autonomous electric-trolley system in the Rävliden mine, a satellite orebody and extension of the Kristineberg mine, and has placed an order for four Minetruck MT42 SG trolley trucks from Epiroc. The total distance will be 5 km at a depth of 750 meters. Once achieved, not only will Rävliden have significantly less carbon emissions compared to a mine using conventional technology, but it will also be part of setting a standard for new mines.
