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 CO 2 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 CO 2 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.