ABB Unveils ABB Ability™ eMine to Assist in Transition to Zero-carbon Mine

Zurich, Switzerland – ABB, a leading global technology company, has introduced ABB Ability™ eMine, a portfolio of solutions that will aid in the transition to a zero-carbon mine. The company also announced the launch of the groundbreaking ABB Ability™ eMine FastCharge, the world’s fastest and most powerful charging system, which is designed to work with all makes of electric mining haul trucks.

eMine™ is a portfolio of electrification technologies that enable an all-electric mine from mine to port, and it is integrated with digital applications and services to monitor and optimize energy usage. It can power any mining equipment used for hoisting, grinding, hauling, or material handling. It will include the new ABB Ability™ eMine FastCharge, which is currently in the pilot phase, beginning in 2022. It also includes the ABB Ability™ eMine Trolley System, which can cut diesel consumption by up to 90 percent, significantly lowering energy costs and environmental impact.

eMine™ provides integral design planning and thinking to maximize the value of electrification, assisting in the optimization of the hauling process with electrical solutions that match mine constraints and help meet production targets. The company helps mine operators map their path to an all-electric mine, from phasing out diesel to instilling a new mindset and team skills. eMine™ reduces overall costs and improves mine performance while significantly reducing environmental impact by fully integrating electrification and digital systems.

eMine™ FastCharge can be a cornerstone of the industry’s transition to fully electrified mines. This adaptable and fully automated solution is designed for the harshest environments, can be installed anywhere, and can charge any electric truck without human intervention at up to 600kW, the highest power available on the market today to reduce mobile asset downtime. The charging time will be determined by the haul truck’s battery capacity and operational profile, but in many cases, a suitable state of charge can be reached in under 15 minutes.

With eMine™, the company expands its capabilities to include the electrification of mining trucks as well as technologies for the entire hauling process. eMine™ is supported by ABB Ability™ MineOptimize, a platform that optimizes engineering in plant or mine design and facilitates the transition to the digital and CO₂-free mine of the future.

Stating that the global mining industry is undergoing one of the most significant and important transformations of our generation – that of becoming zero-carbon, Max Luedtke, Global Head - Mining, ABB, said, “ABB Ability™ eMine is an exciting milestone to help convert existing mining operations from fossil fuel energy to all-electric. Mines can become ever more energy efficient with vastly reduced levels of CO₂ emissions, while at the same time staying competitive and ensuring high productivity.”

On celebrating 130 years in the mining industry and decades in the electrification of mining equipment, Mehrzad Ashnagaran, Global Product Line Manager - Electrification and Composite Plant, ABB, added, “Today we are extending our engineering capabilities and investment to electric transport, to bring new solutions to meet the growing demand of our customers. Besides the environmental benefits, fuel price volatility, making electricity more cost-competitive, and legislation are driving the move to electric-powered mines. ABB not only understands these requirements, but we can also equip the industry to meet them.”

Image Source: ABB Ltd