Powering resilience in high-quality quartz production

The challenge
Safeguarding a critical link in the global semiconductor supply chain
The solution
A rapid-response power strategy built on partnership
The impact
A future-proofed power solution

Client:A leading quartz mining and refining company

Location:Eastern US

Sectors:Mining

The Challenge

Safeguarding a critical link in the global semiconductor supply chain

A leading quartz mining and refining company, supplying essential materials for semiconductors, photovoltaic cells, and quartz lighting, faced a severe power reliability crisis. Located in a remote mountainous region, the facility already struggled with grid instability, experiencing sub-second power blips that disrupted production. The situation escalated when the region was hit by a rare “thousand-year storm event,” threatening prolonged outages. Every second without power put the company at risk of losing over $1M, as plant restarts could take up to six hours—significantly impacting the global semiconductor supply chain. With an imminent storm, the company needed an immediate and resilient power solution to keep operations running and minimize catastrophic financial losses.

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$1+ millionIn potential losses per power outage prevented

8 x 1.3 MWNatural Gas Generators deployed for stable, cost- effective power

SignificantCost savings & emissions reduction with natural gas over diesel

powering resilience in high-quality quartz production

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The Solution

A rapid-response power strategy built on partnership

Having previously discussed contingency plans with the customer, Aggreko swiftly mobilized a tailored energy solution. Eight 1.3 MW natural gas generators were deployed, offering a cost-effective alternative to diesel while ensuring long-term fuel savings and lower emissions. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) were incorporated to enhance power reliability and stabilize fluctuations. Step-down transformers adapted power output to meet the facility’s needs. One of the most critical challenges was the lack of natural gas on-site. Aggreko established a virtual natural gas pipeline to overcome this, guaranteeing a continuous fuel supply even when diesel shortages affected the region. The solution also included a centralized power plant design, which minimized fuel deliveries and personnel exposure in the constrained facility space. Aggreko provided round-the-clock on-site technical support to ensure seamless operation, allowing continuous monitoring and immediate response to any operational challenges. Through close collaboration with mine engineers, Aggreko restored operations and laid the groundwork for long-term power stability.

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The Impact

A future-proofed power solution

Aggreko’s rapid deployment enabled the quartz facility to resume operations safely and efficiently, mitigating financial losses and supply chain disruptions. The natural gas-based solution provided significant cost savings while also reducing emissions. Beyond the immediate storm response, the success of this solution led to continued partnerships. The company has since installed UPS systems and additional 2-3 MW generators at other facilities to combat ongoing grid instability, with a keen interest in expanding BESS technology across their sites.

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Powering resilience in high-quality quartz production

Powering resilience in high-quality quartz production

Safeguarding a critical link in the global semiconductor supply chain

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A rapid-response power strategy built on partnership

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A future-proofed power solution

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Safeguarding a critical link in the global semiconductor supply chain

A rapid-response power strategy built on partnership

A future-proofed power solution

Tags