China-based green technology company Envision Energy has unveiled a new AI-powered energy system for the mining and smelting industry, combining wind, solar, battery storage, gas turbines fuelled by green hydrogen/green ammonia, and an integrated dispatch and control system to lower energy costs, ensure reliable power supply and accelerate decarbonisation.

The system addresses a central challenge across the mining and smelting sector - building up a hybrid new energy system to deliver affordable but reliable green power supply to remote mining sites with weak or even no grid connections.

Envision's approach coordinates renewable generation, battery storage and backup power within an integrated energy system. Its weather and energy AI foundation models, together with the EnOS AI platform, support renewable generation forecasting and load forecasting, system planning and real-time dispatch.

These capabilities optimise the coordination of generation, storage and industrial loads as weather and operating conditions change, helping maintain reliable supply while lowering overall energy costs.

"Safety and reliability are critical to the system's design, supporting mining and smelting operations across grid-connected, weak-grid and off-grid environments. The wind-storage integrated turbines smooth wind power output, while grid-forming battery storage supports system stability," Envision states.

A seven-layer protection and control framework coordinates dispatch, stability control, protection and recovery, helping the system manage sudden load changes, sustain off-grid operation and restore supply following an outage, the company adds.

To further reduce emissions from backup generation, Envision is also exploring the use of gas turbines fuelled by green hydrogen or green ammonia as alternatives to diesel generators.

The company's energy and carbon management capabilities support product carbon-footprint accounting and provide data for green certification processes, helping producers meet customer demand for lower-carbon minerals and metals and demonstrate environmental, social and governance performance in support of green financing.

Envision's offering spans planning, engineering, delivery and ongoing operations, alongside financing options.

Through site-specific system optimisation, the system targets around 20% lower overall energy costs, a renewable electricity share above 80% and power supply reliability exceeding 99.95%, depending on local resources, system configuration and production requirements.

Envision is deploying its energy solutions across the mining and smelting sector, tailoring them to local energy resources and operational requirements. In Western Australia's Pilbara region, Envision is supplying wind turbines for Fortescue's Nullagine wind project, contributing to the renewable-energy infrastructure supporting the miner's Real Zero strategy.

In Baotou, China, Envision has integrated wind power, battery storage, and loads into an integrated energy system for green alloy production. The project meets more than 70% of its electricity needs with renewable energy and cuts yearly CO₂ emissions by more than 200 000 t, demonstrating how renewables can power energy-intensive alloy production.