Endua power bank use case: Mining
Mining operations capacity to double energy autonomy
The Challenge
In a remote mining town for coal seam gas, a disconnected microgrid powered gas wells using electricity from a solar and BESS (battery energy storage system). To meet operational requirements, the operator of the microgrid oversized the lithium battery to achieve three days of autonomy.
The operator wanted to consider all solutions to improve stored energy capacity and autonomy.
The solution
Endua modelled an alternative system design using the power bank, with the following specifications:
System: 250kW PV
Electrolyser: 25kW
Fuel Cell: 35kW
H2 storage: 3637kWh
BESS: 250kWh
The compact system is designed for outdoor application and to withstand all climates, including the hot climates of regional Australia. With an IP54 rating, forced air cooling and shipping container housing, the system could be installed outdoors without the need for further building structure.
The results
At a lower capital cost, the Endua power bank would deliver significantly better customer outcomes by increasing stored capacity by 259%, increasing autonomy from 3.1 days to 7.8 days, and reducing capital costs of solar PV plant.
The graph represents a model of the power bank’s stored energy performance over the course of a year – with the purple segment demonstrating seasonal power discharge, and the grey representing the recharging period.
The power bank can store solar energy generated, soaking up excess or otherwise curtailed energy from the PV plant, and make it available around the clock. It can intelligently monitor the state of the PV plant and dynamically vary hydrogen production based on excess solar power available. Higher utilisation of solar assets would deliver an improved return on investment, further reduction in CO2 emissions, and more solar energy shifted into non-solar hours.
The asset can also be remotely monitored and controlled. The Endua dashboard can display all relevant operational information and features an interface to control the system.
Utilising the power bank in this remote mining town, clean energy can be used to its maximum advantage, and the amount of energy drawn from the grid is significantly reduced.