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March 14, 2026 - The global mining industry is what is known as a "hard-to-abate" sector, because its path to decarbonisation is more circuitous and tortuous than others.
Yet automation machinery manufacturer ABB is working to change that, by embedding electrification at the heart of extractive operations worldwide.
Its new whitepaper, Building the All-Electric Mine, sets out a practical framework for mining companies and their supply chains to rethink how energy is sourced, used and managed across every stage of production.
Mining currently accounts for around 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it one of the most energy-intensive industries on the planet.
That footprint is growing harder to justify as the transition to clean energy accelerates, particularly given that mining supplies many of the raw materials underpinning that very transition.
ABB's analysis shows that electrification can substantially cut emissions while simultaneously lifting operational output.
Across haulage, loading and conveying, the technology now exists to replace diesel-powered machinery with electric alternatives. The business case for this tech, according to ABB, is increasingly compelling.
That said, progress so far has been uneven.
The company's research found that 30% of mining leaders currently report falling behind their 2030 decarbonisation targets, a reflection of the difficult trade-offs operational managers must navigate between sustainability commitments, capital expenditure and the relentless pressure to maintain profitability.
Declining ore grades are intensifying the energy challenge
One structural force is making the energy question more urgent: as ore grades decline, significantly more energy is required to extract and process the same volume of metal.
New mining projects are also increasingly located in remote areas with limited access to established grid infrastructure, making the integration of renewable energy sources not just desirable but essential.
ABB argues that addressing these twin pressures – higher energy demand and limited grid access – requires a fundamental rethink of how mines are powered.
Combining renewable generation with battery energy storage systems and mine production forecasting tools can smooth out load peaks and protect operations from the volatility of fossil fuel prices.
Since 2021, ABB has completed 26 electrification studies across nine countries, providing site-specific blueprints and building operator confidence in what remains, for many, as unfamiliar territory.
The key figures
7% – Global greenhouse gas share attributed to mining 30% – Mining leaders behind 2030 decarbonisation targets 53% – Leaders expecting operational transformation over five years 26 – ABB electrification studies completed across nine countries since 2021 42% – Companies planning haulage decarbonisation investment by 2026 68% – Planning to electrify 25% of their fleets by 2030 90% – Potential emissions reduction achievable via trolley assist infrastructure 2x – Speed advantage of electric trucks over diesel equivalents.
A roadmap to an all-electric mine Credit: Gemini
Electric fleets: the energy and productivity case combined
The strongest arguments for electrification tend to be those where sustainability and commercial logic reinforce each other.
Electric haul trucks offer a clear example: they are twice as fast as their diesel counterparts, significantly boosting throughput. They also have fewer moving parts, which cuts maintenance costs and reduces downtime.
Many can be charged autonomously, removing the need for human intervention and further streamlining operations.
Underground mines stand to gain particularly from the shift. The absence of diesel exhaust improves air quality substantially, with direct benefits for worker health.
Reduced noise and vibration lower fatigue levels, and electric systems remove some of the fire and explosion risks associated with combustion engines.
When combined with autonomous operation, personnel can be removed from the most hazardous environments altogether.
Managing power stability in electrified operations
Introducing large-scale electric vehicle fleets into mine operations does not simply swap one energy source for another – it fundamentally changes the energy load profile of a site.
Charging cycles can create volatile demand peaks, particularly where renewables are the primary generation source.
ABB's approach treats power as a strategic operational resource, rather than a utility to be managed in the background.
The whitepaper advocates for robust grid infrastructure planning from the outset, supported by digital monitoring and automation tools that can anticipate and prevent failures before they occur.
Battery storage systems, combined with real-time production forecasting, allow operators to flatten demand curves and reduce the risk of supply disruption.
The commercial logic is clear: mines that depend on electricity are insulated from the price swings that have long plagued diesel-reliant operators, whilst also gaining greater visibility into their energy costs through digital monitoring platforms.
A seven-step guide to electrification
ABB's whitepaper distils the journey towards an all-electric mine into seven guiding principles:
Start small, think big: Target incremental changes that generate meaningful performance gains Rely on proven technology: Electrification is no longer experimental but a demonstrated reliability upgrade Leverage mutual benefits: Automation and electrification reinforce each other in mine environments Prioritise interoperability: Charging infrastructure built on open standards ensures compatibility across multi-vendor fleets Use technology to attract talent: Modern digital environments and cleaner air help bring in younger workers Treat energy as a core operational asset: Power availability directly shapes productivity, safety and uptime Collaborate throughout: Working across the supply chain enables teams to absorb change gradually whilst accruing carbon and cost savings over time.
The workforce
Concerns about retraining workers accustomed to diesel equipment are common in the industry.
ABB's position is that automation assists rather than displaces the workforce, streamlining tasks and removing humans from the most dangerous environments.
The talent angle is also significant. More than two-thirds of survey respondents (68%) identified technology adoption as a driver of diversity and a means of attracting younger workers to an industry that has long struggled with an ageing workforce and a reputational deficit.
Cleaner, quieter and more digitally sophisticated operations change the proposition for prospective employees considerably.
Flexible energy transfer: stationary and dynamic solutions
Electrifying large haul trucks requires a combination of stationary and dynamic energy transfer technologies tailored to each site's operational constraints.
ABB works with original equipment manufacturers to supply onboard components – batteries and inverters – enabling diesel trucks to be retrofitted rather than replaced outright, reducing capital requirements and disruption.
Stationary charging systems, using manual or automated connection devices, are suited to periods when trucks are stationary.
Fast offboard systems work well for vehicles in continuous use with minimal idle time, whilst slower onboard systems are better matched to equipment such as drill rigs.
All solutions are built on open standards, ensuring compatibility across vendors and adaptability to specific site layouts.
Trolley assist: a pathway to near-zero underground emissions
Among the most significant innovations highlighted in the whitepaper is trolley-assist technology, which feeds power into diesel-electric trucks via overhead lines as they travel.
ABB collaborated with Epiroc to install the world's first fully battery-electric trolley truck system on an underground test track operated by Boliden – a system subsequently extended to a 5km segment.
The technology offers considerable energy efficiency gains, with regenerative braking on downhill sections recovering energy that would otherwise be lost as heat.
New trolley systems are designed to be easily relocated, with modular pre-cast foundations and lightweight suspension, making them adaptable as mine layouts evolve.
ABB says this approach could deliver up to a 90% reduction in haulage emissions – one of the most dramatic decarbonisation opportunities in the sector.
Automated energy management systems underpin the whole approach, analysing operational schedules in real time to allocate power where it is needed most.
The combination of electrification and automation, ABB argues, is not simply a greener version of mining as usual – it is a fundamentally different operating model.
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