With many industries placing sustainability high up on their business agenda and with the rapid deployment of solar panels, wind mills and other renewable and low-emission energy infrastructure driving up the demand for iron, copper, aluminium and other rare earth elements, the spotlight is on the mining sector to improve its output and efficiency in a sustainable way.
To meet their huge energy demand more sustainably, many mining operators are beginning to use renewable energy resources to replace heavy fuel oil generators, many of which are deployed at remote mining sites, while ensuring that reliability and continuity of their power supply are not compromised in their operations (Mellmann et al, 2020).
Simultaneously, as fire and environmental risks continue to be of concern – following a few major bushfire outbreaks – the use of mineral oil-based insulating fluid in transformers is increasingly viewed as unacceptable. With the use of dry-type transformers also limited by their low efficiency and stringent operating requirements, liquid-filled transformers with less flammable insulating fluids (or ‘K class’ fluid according to IEC Standard, 2008) are fast becoming the industry norm.
Developed more than 25 years ago to combat the fire and environmental hazards of liquid-filled transformers, natural ester is becoming the fastest growing insulating fluid in the market, as it is capable of improving equipment lifespan, reliability and loading capacity. As will be discussed later, these capabilities can play a key part in enabling mining operators to achieve economic, environmental, and social sustainability.