The Challenge
Provide an energy solution at a competitive cost
The Cerro Moro gold-silver mining project, located in Patagonia, Argentina, in a remote area with severe wind conditions and low temperatures, needed a reliable power generation provider during project development and the operational phase.
Among the requirements established by the customer from the start was that the power solution be scalable and capable of being adapted to Visitexpansion needs as the project progressed in construction; beginning with 3 MW and increasing progressively to 10 MW.
It is worth emphasising that the mining industry is one of the primary revenue sources for the economy of Argentina, and Cerro Moro has approximate reserves of 1.95 million tonnes of minerals, which has great potential to be increased through exploration work.
KEY FACTS
- 10 MW of energy in a scalable solution
- 1 MW with a battery as spinning reserve
The Solution
10 MW of scalable power + 1 MW with battery as spinning reserve
After an initial bidding process, the customer considered our solution to be the one best capable of being adapted to its needs, since we offered them the power scalability required at a competitive total cost.
In the beginning, during the construction process, they needed a 3 MW fleet that would then be expanded to 10 MW, which was not a problem for us due to the flexible model of our generators that allow us to quickly increase the amount of installed power.
After two years supporting this project, we improved our solution with a 1 MW battery that would function as a spinning reserve. This resulted in perfect synergy between our equipment, since the surplus power is stored in the battery until the moment it is needed, which improves the efficiency of the entire system.
Our experience in remote areas enabled us to offer them a comprehensive solution that includes diesel equipment and 1 storage battery, which, in combination, consumes less fuel for each MW generated, translating into a significant reduction in costs for our customer.
The Impact
Savings in power generation with highly efficient fleet
Our innovative solution meant a lower total energy cost, meeting the needs of the customer and providing reliable energy at every phase of the project.
Furthermore, with our scalable solution the customer had only one provider for every stage of the mining project: from construction, start-up, and operation, without having to turn to to a number of different companies. The mining industry is a vector of growth and development in the region. Because of this, Aggreko supports the advancement of this industry, developing innovative, customised, reliable, and safe solutions.