ARENA invests in sustainable mining with BluVein

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is supporting a first-of-its-kind dynamic charging technology to reduce emissions in the Australian mining sector with a $9 million grant to BluVein.

According to the initiators, the new funding will allow BluVein to trial its ‘hammer and rail’ charging technology for heavy haulage battery electric mining vehicles. The idea here is to “prove what innovative technology can offer Australia’s most energy intensive industries.”

With the new funds, BluVein will develop and trial a 40-60 tonne prototype truck integrated with BluVein’s charging technology,’ BluVein1′, which can charge with up to approximately 1MW. The vehicles will be used for underground mining, before extending the development of its technology to use for ultra-class heavy surface haulage trucking, with the ‘BluVeinXL hammer and rail’, which can deliver approximately 8MW.

“Australia’s heavy industries are a major source of emissions and energy use. If we’re serious about hitting our climate targets, we need bold solutions,” said ARENA CEO Darren Miller, adding: “BluVein’s innovative hammer and rail technology could offer a solution for Australia’s reliance on billions of litres of diesel fuel by using renewable energy delivered through the grid to power mining haul trucks.”

BluVein CEO James Oliver added: “This project, supported by ARENA, will demonstrate how BluVein1 and BluVeinXL can decarbonise Australia’s mining sector by enabling safe, in-motion electrification. By reducing diesel reliance, we aim to lower emissions and enhance operational efficiency, paving the way for sustainable mining practices.”

This is not the first instance of ARENA investing in improving charging technology, as just last December, 10 million AUD were given to Fortesque to develop an MW charger. Earlier in 2024, ARENA had also invested over 20 million AUD in three e-mobility projects. The programme initially kicked off in 2021 with funding for fast charging infrastructure.

With the funds now issued, this marks the closing of the second round of ARENA’s ‘Industrial Transformation Stream Program’. The third round is planned to open in the fourth quarter of this year.

linkedin.com, arena.gov.au