Enhancing Energy Sustainability in Remote Mining Operations Through Wind and Pumped-Hydro Storage; Application to Raglan Mine, Canada

The Raglan mining site in northern Quebec relies on diesel for electricity and heat generation, resulting in annual emissions of 105,500 tons of CO2 equivalent. This study investigates the feasibility of decarbonizing the site’s power generation system by integrating a renewable energy network of wind turbines and a pumped hydro storage plant (PHSP). It uniquely integrates PHSP modeling with a dynamic analysis of variable wind speeds and extreme climatic conditions, providing a novel perspective on the feasibility of renewable energy systems in remote northern regions. MATLAB R2024b-based simulations assessed the hybrid system’s technical and economic performance. The proposed system, incorporating a wind farm and PHSP, reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50%, avoiding 68,500 tons of CO2 equivalent annually, and lowers diesel consumption significantly. The total investment costs are estimated at 2080 CAD/kW for the wind farm and 3720 CAD/kW for the PHSP, with 17.3 CAD/MWh and 72.5 CAD/kW-year operational costs, respectively. The study demonstrates a renewable energy share of 52.2% in the energy mix, with a payback period of approximately 11 years and substantial long-term cost savings. These findings highlight the potential of hybrid renewable energy systems to decarbonize remote, off-grid industrial operations and provide a scalable framework for similar projects globally.