Renewables and mining activities: the case study of Piedmont Region (NW Italy)

Mining activities have high energy demand, significantly impacting the climate and environment due to reliance on fossil fuels, and accounting for about 30% of operating costs. Consequently, integrating renewable energy into the mining sector has been promoted by international agreements aimed at reducing carbon footprints. However, challenges remain in terms of technical and policy barriers to widespread implementation. A positive example comes from the Piedmont Region (NW Italy), where the Regional Plan for Mining Activities (PRAE) encourages the use of renewable energy through regional incentives, with ambitious goals for 2030 and 2050. This paper analyzes active mining operations in Piedmont, exploring the potential for converting some activities to renewable energy systems. It evaluates the feasibility of solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal energy, discussing their strengths and limitations based on the energy needs of each mining operation. The study found significant potential for hydropower (including mini-hydro) in mountainous areas and geothermal energy for plain mining activities through ground-source heat pump systems. Additionally, the installation of floating solar panels on quarry lakes shows promise.