pstarr wrote:Of course we can develop electric mining equipment and shipping (processes? really?). That's because we already have: the latter are called submarines. The former . . . well I'll let you examine that by yourself. The problem with techtopia is in the detail. Something here about batteries, evenings, storms, and . . . long wires . . .
If you ever visit an underground mine, you will find them increasingly more and more dependent on electrical equipment. From the long wall grinders, to the conveyors used to move the ore to the surface, more and more is electrical. One reason for this is that it drastically cuts the need for ventilation. I have done commissioning on mines that used virtually no FF machinery from the face to the processing facility.
When you get to open pit mining it is different, I admit. But there is no reason at all for it to stay that way. Look at some open pit mines that use literally miles of conveyor belts to move the ore to the processing plants. Any time you have equipment used at a
fixed location, you can make electrical equipment work in place of FF equipment.
Yes, I am speaking of grid tied electrical equipment, but we are slowly weaning ourselves away from FF to power the grid.