This article reviews various clean technology options applicable to large‐scale operations, such as mining operations. The mining industry is one of the highest energy‐consumption sectors, accounting for 38% of the global industrial energy consumption. Meanwhile, the energy crisis cannot be ignored, especially in countries such as South Africa, where mining forms the backbone of its economy. The current challenge facing South Africa is load shedding, which directly impacts the output and efficiency of the mining industry. Yet, the mines are still highly dependent on coal‐generated power. The study reviewed technologies such as renewable energy (RE), energy storage systems (ESSs), and smart grids. The most interesting finding from the review is that China is at the forefront of clean energy usage, whereas countries in sub‐Saharan Africa are far from reaching the targets set by the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study proposes targeted policy and investment actions to accelerate the adoption of RE and energy storage technologies. Finally, the article concludes with a research agenda that prioritises the development of long‐duration energy storage, the use of hydrogen for heavy‐duty haulage transport, the repurposing of mine sites, and the enhancement of smart‐grid cybersecurity.
Dikgwatlhe et al. (Thu,) studied this question.