Project Team Members:

Amber Bieg - Project Lead

Mitch Samson - Engineering and Technical Analysis

Jay Schuyler - Engineering

Zach Bell - Research and Analysis

 

Scope: Electrification Analysis, GHG Emissions Forecasting and Renewable Energy Systems Feasibility

 

Schedule: Apr 2021 - Ongoing

 

Summary:

Nevada Copper and parent company, Pala Investments hired WSC to analyze various trade-off scenarios associated with electrifying heavy-duty mining equipment, as well as evaluating a 100 MW microgrid to support the Nevada Copper Mine.

The first phase of the project required applying renewable energy engineering to conduct a high-level analysis of developing a solar + battery microgrid for current underground and future open pit mining operations. WSC also assessed the viability and economic feasibility of transitioning to electric mining equipment. 

The second phase of the project looked at the technical feasibility of grid management via utility net-metering agreements, microgrid supplementation, carbon emissions avoidance and various trade-off scenarios. 

WSC will continue providing guidance to Nevada Copper in choosing the appropriate electric vehicle technologies and infrastructure best suited to their operations. WSC will also be providing climate risk assessments.