Fekola

B2Gold, a Canadian public gold-mining company, operates a large gold mine in southwest Mali, Africa. Seeking a clean energy solution to improve energy generation and energy security at the off-grid mine, including integration of existing energy assets (solar and engines), B2Gold chose a hybrid solution to reduce their fuel-dependence, cut carbon emissions and optimise mining operations at the Fekola Mine. Wärtsilä has partnered with B2Gold to deliver the solution. Wärtsilä’s GEMS Digital Energy Platform, an advanced energy management software, integrates, controls and optimises a 17.3 MW / 15.4 MWh energy storage system alongside a 30 MW solar photovoltaic plant onsite, in addition to the mine’s existing 64 MW fuel generator.

B2Gold, a Canadian public gold-mining company, operates a large gold mine in southwest Mali, Africa. Seeking The project will hybridise the energy supply of Fekola to reduce the facility’s dependence on imported heavy fuel oil, saving operational and transportation costs, as well as lower greenhouse gas emissions.

The application of the project is to maintain microgrid stability, in addition to the curtailment of ramp events, the elimination of engine and solar power fluctuations and the provision of spinning reserves. GEMS will use automated and forecasted data, including load demand and weather, to enable energy production optimisation, ensuring the lowest Levelised Cost Of Electricity (LCOE) for the mine.

The renewables plus storage solution is both cost competitive as well as environmentally beneficial. Payback on the project is expected in only a few years and carbon emissions are projected to reduce by approximately 86 million pounds per year.