(45d) Hybrid Renewable Energy System Evaluation for Industry Applications

Chilean economy is known to be closely tied to ore processing capabilities. Ore-processing is known for involving energy–intensive processes, such as comminution, concentrating, and cathodic processes. Given these energy needs, and the fact that electrical energy supply in the north of Chile is based on fossil fuels, it is important to consider the use of renewable energies as environment-friendly and economic alternatives. The aim of this work is to evaluate, by an optimized techno-economic analysis, the use of photovoltaic and a novel electrolytical wind-based offshore technology to supply at least 10% of the current and the predicted electrical energy requirements of the mining industry in the Antofagasta region. A combination of optimization problems was performed to obtain the optimal number of solar and electrolytical wind-based technology units. Total energy generation from a novel technology unit is 67,616 MWh/year. Considering a 65% efficiency of the combined cycle fed with hydrogen and oxygen, 28,133 MWh/year of electrical energy would be obtained. For the cases studied the cost of energy from the combined system was estimated to be between 0.255 US$/KWh and 0.273 US$/KWh, slightly higher than the average energy regional cost. According to the analysis, the renewable energy system could be a sustainable alternative to supply economic green energy to the mining industry in Chile.