The challenge
Remote mines run their own islanded diesel or HFO power stations, and the loads are brutal: a single crusher, mill, hoist or shovel can throw a multi-megawatt step onto the bus in an instant. To catch those swings, operators keep extra engines spinning at part-load — burning fuel to stand by, not to work.
Diesel trucked in over long haul roads is often the single largest line in site OPEX, and it's exposed to price and supply shocks. Pairing storage with solar or wind cuts the burn and stiffens an otherwise fragile off-grid network.
Where storage pays off in Mining
Diesel & renewable hybrid microgrid
Firm on-site solar or wind with storage so engines run fewer hours or shut off entirely — mine hybrids routinely displace 20–40% of diesel.
Spinning-reserve replacement
The battery catches load steps in milliseconds, so engines no longer idle on standby and can run at their efficient load point — or stop.
Heavy-plant peak shaving
Smooth the inrush from crushers, mills, hoists and shovels, so you don't oversize generation just to survive short peaks.
Islanded ride-through
Hold the network through engine trips and generation gaps, keeping ventilation, dewatering and conveyors live.
What a Hanum deployment looks like
Containers tie into the mine's medium-voltage ring, between the diesel station and any renewables. An energy-management system dispatches the battery first and engines second, keeping the islanded grid stable while minimising fuel burn. The system scales to tens of MWh for large operations.
| Connection | MV ring / site microgrid |
| Primary role | Spinning reserve + RE firming |
| Scale | Multi-MWh, modular |
| Control | Mine energy-management system |
Outcomes you can expect
- 20–40% diesel displacement when paired with solar or wind
- Fewer engines idling on part-load — better efficiency and life
- A stable islanded grid through heavy motor starts and trips
- Lower and more predictable $/tonne energy cost
At a glance
Common questions for Mining
Yes — that's the design intent. With grid-forming control the battery sets the grid reference, lets engines run efficiently or stop, and rides through trips. We size reserve to your largest single-motor start.
The battery responds in milliseconds — far faster than a governor — so it absorbs the inrush and holds frequency and voltage while engines catch up, removing the need to keep spare sets spinning.
Yes. We add the storage and EMS alongside your current engines and switchgear; nothing has to be ripped out. The EMS simply re-orders dispatch to put fuel last.
Recommended systems
Mining sites use the Container 5000, deployed in multiples and sized to your reserve requirement and renewable build-out.
Put storage to work in Mining
Send us your load profile, tariffs and site details and we'll model exactly how a Hanum system performs and pays back for your operation — lease or buy.
Get a free consultation