Test bed - Energy supply for innovative mining from an environmental and energy perspective.

Purpose and goal

The purpose of this study was to build a project which can set the trend in Sweden and internationally for how one can find the most energy efficient, systematically smart way to start a new basic industry, in this case an iron ore mine. We believe that the methodology we intends to develop also will be applicable in other industries. A proposal for how a test bed can be created has been developed during the feasibility study. The test bed will consist of an infrastructure that includes mines, power grids, wind farms and a research and development facility for control and storage of / into the grid.

Results and expected effects

Ultimately, the goal of the pilot study was to create a test bed for a mine that uses less energy per tonne of finished product, than any other mine in the world. The goal was also to develop a general approach so that the results of a test bed later can be applied to other mines, regardless of the type of mineral deposit that is mined. After completion of the feasibility study we have defined a test bed with an infrastructure where a number of different areas and choices of technology can be tested and demonstrated during building the test bed as well as when the test bed is completed.

Approach and implementation

A consortium consisting of HVV, Samarkand, Nordic Iron Ore, VB Elnät and Högskolan Dalarna along with STRI and Indlast have worked with analysis of the current power balance, energy systems analysis, evaluation and reviews of possible technological choices, the development of models for calculation and simulation of the mine´s operation, study of the controllability of the mining industry to contribute to the operation and planning of the electrical grid, the mapping of opportunities to use the controllability of the grid, compilation of project results and basis for a testbed.