Energy Efficiency Assessment of Hybrid Solar PV and Diesel-Only Power Systems for Mining Dewatering Pumps Using HOMER Simulation
Keywords:
Energy Efficiency , Fuel Consumption, Hybrid PV-diesel, LCOE, HOMER simulationAbstract
Mining dewatering pumps are among of the largest energy consumers in open-pit operations, where power is traditionally supplied by diesel generators with high operating costs and fuel dependence. This study assesses the feasibility of integrating diesel power with solar photovoltaic (PV) generation to enhance the energy and economic performance of dewatering systems. Using the Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER Pro) software, two configurations were simulated and compared: a diesel-only system and a hybrid PV–diesel system equipped with battery storage. Results show that the hybrid configuration substantially enhances operational efficiency, reducing generator runtime from 3,463 to 952 hours/year and diesel consumption from 176,780 to 34,418 L/year, corresponding to reductions of 72% and 80%, respectively. These improvements result in a lower Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for the hybrid system (0.351 USD/kWh) compared to the diesel-only baseline (0.428 USD/kWh). A sensitivity analysis of fuel price variation confirms the economic robustness of the hybrid configuration, as its LCOE remains consistently lower across both low- and high-fuel-price scenarios. Overall, the findings demonstrate that integrating solar PV into mine dewatering operations provides a cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative to complete diesel systems while reducing vulnerability to fuel price volatility.
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