ARENA grants $9m to mine-tech company BluVein
Supported by some of Australia’s largest miners, a Queensland company provided a $ 9 million government grant to support the development of a new charging technology for battery -powered mining trucks.
The Australian renewable energy agency (Arena) Grant will allow Bluvein to try the ‘hammer and railway’ dynamic charging technology.
The system contains an electric rail with a nest with a ‘hammer’, which is mounted on or next to the mining tool, connecting the truck to the rails.
It is designed to charge battery -powered trucks while carrying ore.
Therefore, it deals with one of the major challenges faced by mining companies aiming to replace diesel trucks with battery trucks.
The need to charge the batteries or to install very heavy batteries poses a major risk for the efficiency of mining operations.
Bluvein is a common initiative between the Queensland -based technology development company Olitek and Sweden ‘Electric Highways’ developer Evias.
It was launched in 2021, and at that time, mining companies Northern Star Resources, Newcrest Madencilik, Vale, Glencore, Agnico Eagle, Anglogold Ashant and Oz Minerals said he made financing agreements.
BHP Ventures and South32 were later registered as finance partners.
Bluvein also announced an agreement with the Swedish mining equipment manufacturer EPIROC, a Swedish mining equipment manufacturer, which plans to cooperate with Bluvein with Bluvein.
Arena today said that Bluvein would first develop a 40-60-ton prototype truck integrated with charging technology known as Bluvein1 (approximately 1MW).
With the Bluveınxl system (approximately 8MW), it plans to expand the use of technology to heavy haulage surface trucks.
James Oliver, CEO of Bluvein, said his company was excited to buy Arena’s $ 9 million grant.
“This project, supported by Arena, will show how Bluvein1 and Bluveınxl can provide a safe, active electrification of Australia from carbon,” he said.
“By reducing diesel trust, we aim to reduce emissions and increase operational efficiency and pave the way for sustainable mining practices.”
