Fuel cell application to mining has been indicated to be potentially beneficial to underground mine worker health and to energy efficiency. In order to define the economic advantages of using hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, a detailed study of operating and capital costs associated with underground loaders and power supply infrastructure has been carried out. The results show that for a typical medium-sized mine, operating costs and infrastructure costs are less for the fuel cell option versus diesel. The reverse occurs for capital costs owing to the currently higher cost of fuel cells versus diesel engines. This disparity is expected to decrease given the decline in price associated with fuel cell technology advances. Related market issues for fuel cell manufacturers are also presented. Despite the difference in cost, the resources and mine infrastructure required to operate underground loaders, and base design of the mine loader, is similar for diesel and fuel cell versions.
Economic aspects to fuel cell mine applications
Ökonomische Aspekte des Brennstoffzelleneinsatzes im Bergbau
2007
7 Seiten, 6 Tabellen, 4 Quellen
Conference paper
Storage medium
English
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