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industry. Our team of innovators designed this system to provide
immediate benefit to miners who want to lower their operating
costs and greenhouse gas emissions today while also creating EQUIPMENT
flexibility for the future,” said Denise Johnson, Caterpillar’s Resource
Industries group president.
What is Cat DET?
Cat DET is comprised of a series of integrated elements, including
a power module that converts energy from a mine site’s power
source, an electrified rail system to transmit the energy, and a
machine system to transfer the energy to the truck’s powertrain.
CATERPILLAR SAYS ITS NEW SOLUTION IS A The rail system is a mobile solution that can be customised to
“TECHNOLOGICAL LEAP” FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY customers’ specific site layouts, including high-speed and curved
Caterpillar has unveiled what it calls “an innovative OEM-designed haul roads, enabling higher productivity. The connecting arm can
solution” to help solve one of the most complex aspects of the be installed on either side of a truck and on multiple truck models,
mining industry’s energy transition – energy management. providing options to fit customers’ specific operations. It can also
Cat Dynamic Energy Transfer (DET) is a fully Caterpillar-developed be used on mature or developing sites, and it can be moved or
system that can transfer energy to both diesel-electric and battery- expanded to allow maximum mine site coverage.
electric large mining trucks while they are working on a mine site. Cat DET will integrate with the Cat MineStar Command for hauling
It can also charge a machine’s batteries while operating with solution, merging autonomy and electrification technologies.
increased speed on grade, improving operational efficiency and “We believe mine sites will benefit from enhanced efficiency with
machine uptime. The Cat DET system provides the industry with the integration of electrification and automation. When combined,
options to support both near-term and long-term sustainability these technologies will help miners achieve production targets
strategies. while simultaneously managing energy demands,” added
“We believe Cat DET provides a technological leap for the mining Caterpillar, Senior Vice President, Marc Cameron.
STRABAG TESTING LIEBHERR’S HYDROGEN WHEELED carbon emissions in our company. And construction machinery
LOADER accounts for a large part of our consumption. New, low-emission
Austria-based construction company Strabag and German-Swiss fuel solutions are therefore a key lever for effectively reducing
equipment manufacturer Liebherr announced a pilot project emissions.”
involving the OEM’s new hydrogen-powered loader on quarry
works in Europe. Hydrogen adoption has geopolitical implications
Recently, Liebherr released its L 566 H, a prototype hydrogen- The Strabag/Liebherr project caught the attention of more than
engine wheeled loader that the company said is the ‘world’s just the construction and machine industry, as Leonore Gewessler,
first’ of its kind. It launched earlier this year at Liebherr’s facility in Austria Federal Minister for Climate Action and Environment, was
Salzburg, Austria. present for the inauguration.
Strabag said use of the prototype also amounts to a project first. In addition to the project’s potential for reducing CO2 emissions,
“For the first time, green hydrogen will replace conventional Gewessler said promoting alternative fuel sources will also lessen
diesel to power a large wheel loader in practical operation,” said dependence on natural gas, of which Russia is a primary global
Strabag, noting the solution has the potential to save up to 37,500 exporter.
litres of diesel or around 100 tonnes of CO2 annually. “It enables parts of industry to switch to climate-friendly production,
The prototype will work Kanzelstein quarry in Gratkorn, Styria, Austria. which secures and creates jobs,” said Gewessler, then adding
A trial period will run “several years” with Strabag hoping the these benefits were vital “to replace fossil natural gas from Russia
hydrogen (H2) engine solution can enable zero-emission and beyond.”
certification for the machinery and zero-emission limits on nitrogen
oxides. The company said it plans to be “climate neutral” by 2040.
Energie Steiermark supplying Strabag/Liebherr H2 project
Energie Steiermark, one of Austria’s largest energy service
providers, is partnering with Strabag to set up hydrogen supply
and refuelling infrastructure at the quarry.
With nationwide storage and refilling infrastructure for hydrogen-
powered machines in its infancy, the installation of H2 storing and
filling units on site provides the project a reliable supply of green
hydrogen.
Marco Xaver Bornschlegl, head of the innovation and digitalisation
for Strabag’s central division, said, “Fuels are the biggest source of
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