ABB LAUNCHES NEW WHITE PAPER DESCRIBING THE IMPACT OF GEARLESS MILL DRIVE TECHNOLOGY ON CO₂ EMISSIONS

ABB released an in-depth white paper detailing the vital role that gearless grinding technologies can play in driving productivity in mining while simultaneously reducing their carbon footprint. One of the key findings in the report, based upon extensive testing of ABB’s current installed base of Gearless Mill Drives (GMDs), is the high level of efficiency they provide. GMDs can be up to 3.6 percent more energy efficient than Ring-Geared Mill Drives (RMDs), reducing energy consumption and operational costs of the mine. This level of efficiency across ABB’s GMD installed base equates to 195kt of CO2 – the equivalent of 89,000 cars taken off the road. Even a conservative 2 percent of increased efficiency equates to 106kt of CO2 saved, or 49,000 cars taken off the road.

Achieving such efficiency savings is highly important to the future of the mining industry. Humanity’s demand for critical minerals is growing thanks to the twin drivers of increasing digitalization and the energy transition. Meanwhile, ore quality is declining, requiring more ore to be mined to produce the same amount of metal. This challenge is further compounded by growing pressure to reduce the environmental impact of mining. Addressing all challenges simultenously is a challenge of enormous proportions.



The report details how GMD technology will play a vital role in overcoming critical minerals production challenges at scale. Image ABB

In ABB’s new white paper, the company investigates how these conflicts are impacting the copper industry. Copper is vital for the energy transition and demand is predicted to double by 2050. Yet today, roughly only 0.5 percent of ore can be converted to copper, down from historical levels of 1 percent. To maintain the same levels of copper production, todays mines must process double the amount of ore. However, increasing mining outputs without supporting sustainability initiatives could contribute more emissions than copper can negate.



Copper is vital for the energy transition and demand for the metal is predicted to double by 2050. Image ABB

“The only way to produce more critical minerals such as copper while also minimizing the environmental impact of mining operations is through the use of GMDs,” said Wilson Monteiro, Global Business Line Manager for Gearless Mill Drives, ABB. “GMDs have proven their value across industries for more than 50 years, and have demonstrated the potential to deliver a more environmentally friendly, efficient and reliable grinding operation than would be possible with alternative technologies. This whitepaper shows GMDs to be the system of choice for mines looking to a more efficient and productive future.”

The report details how technology will play a vital role in overcoming these challenges. As GMDs have fewer mechanical parts, they have been found to be more energy efficient, more reliable and easier to maintain. These characteristics mean it is less energy intensive while having more uptime, delivering the twin benefits of a reduced carbon footprint and increased productivity.

The full interactive whitepaper can be accessed online here.