4
underground pumped storage power plants that can store
energy and convert it when energy demand is low and sup-
ply it when demand is higher. In addition, other energy
generation options such as mine water, geothermal energy,
mine gases, wind and solar energy, biomass, compressed air
storage, and large-scale batteries and other energy storage
systems have been considered 9.
This topic has evolved over the years and stands for a
multi-use mine, a mine that can fulfill multiple purposes
during its operational phase and in the post-mining phase.
This topic will be discussed in more detail in chapter 2.1
10,11.
Ten years after its introduction, the concept of the BM
is now being expanded. Figure 3 shows the expansion of the
original model to include the areas of “water” and “circu-
larity” (circular economy). The circular economy concept
aims to promote a sustainable production and consump-
tion model. By sharing, leasing, repairing, refurbishing and
recycling materials and products, the aim is to maximize
product life and minimize waste. Clausthal University of
Technology (TU Clausthal) has adopted the circular econ-
omy as a guiding principle for its research, teaching and
technology transfer activities and has developed a holistic
framework for it.
Although mining is not directly associated with the
circular economy, the concept is not foreign to the indus-
try. However, at the International Council on Mining and
Metals’ (ICMM) Responsible Mining Leadership Forum
2023, it was noted that current mining processes do not
yet sufficiently support the circular economy. Nevertheless,
mining offers great potential to recover and reuse valu-
able raw materials from circular economy and discarded
products.
The redesign of products and processes is a key com-
ponent in the implementation of the circular economy in
mining. Disruptive technologies and innovative concepts
are integrated into strategic mine planning to set clear
goals at the planning stage that maximize resource utiliza-
tion well beyond the life of a mine. In addition, the need
for integrative mine planning in the BM is emphasized,
actively incorporating the four aspects from the conception
of the mining project to the decision on a suitable decom-
missioning strategy and a second economic life in the post-
mining period.
The aspects of energy, ergonomics, water and circular
economy, which characterize the Blue Mining approach,
represent four important elements for modern mines. These
are considered separately in the following sections together
with the implementation options.
Energy as Part of the Blue Mining approach
Underground mining is a method of extracting minerals
by constructing tunnels and shafts to access and extract
valuable deposits. Compared to surface mining methods,
underground mining is often used when deposits are too
deep, irregularly shaped or when the overburdened material
makes surface mining economically unfeasible 12. Energy
consumption is a major challenge, as underground min-
ing relies on energy-intensive machinery and processes for
drilling, blasting, excavation, material handling and trans-
portation. Additional energy is required for ventilation,
lighting, dewatering and cooling systems. The main energy
sources for operations in mines are usually gas, compressed
air, diesel fuel, explosives and electricity. Due to their ver-
satility and mobility, diesel-powered equipment is generally
used. Diesel-powered drilling rigs are used in both open-
cast and underground mines 13. However, the use of diesel
leads to high fuel costs, high greenhouse gas emissions and
problems with underground air quality. In addition, the
necessary energy supply will play a decisive role, as mines
will be located deeper and deeper. In recent decades, the
depth of exploration has increased by an average of around
50 meters per year 14. In addition, a study on copper min-
ing, including underground deposits, found that electricity
costs for mining and processing increase by 7 %for every
additional 100 meters of mining depth 15.
Mining operations are very energy intensive, with
most of the energy during the construction and operational
phases of the mine being generated from fossil fuels. Energy
costs can account for up to 30 %of a mine’s total operat-
ing expenditure 16. It is estimated that the mining industry
consumes around 12 EJ of energy annually, which is equiv-
alent to 3.5 %of total global final energy consumption.
In addition, traditional sources such as fossil fuels like coal
and diesel provide the majority of energy used in mining 17.
Although the environmental impact of electricity
depends on the energy mix of the grid, the increasing energy
demand of the mining industry is increasing the environ-
mental footprint of electricity generation. However, due
to structural change in Germany, this latent challenge also
represents an opportunity for the country’s mining indus-
try. The rate of energy generation from renewable energies
in Germany was already 53.4 %in 2023 and is expected to
be 80 %in 2030 18. There is therefore a growing need for
sustainable and efficient energy solutions, such as electric
vehicles, geothermal energy generation and the integration
of microgrids. The integration of these solutions is defined
by the Blue Mining approach under the concept of a low-
energy mine and its three principles, and its integration can
underground pumped storage power plants that can store
energy and convert it when energy demand is low and sup-
ply it when demand is higher. In addition, other energy
generation options such as mine water, geothermal energy,
mine gases, wind and solar energy, biomass, compressed air
storage, and large-scale batteries and other energy storage
systems have been considered 9.
This topic has evolved over the years and stands for a
multi-use mine, a mine that can fulfill multiple purposes
during its operational phase and in the post-mining phase.
This topic will be discussed in more detail in chapter 2.1
10,11.
Ten years after its introduction, the concept of the BM
is now being expanded. Figure 3 shows the expansion of the
original model to include the areas of “water” and “circu-
larity” (circular economy). The circular economy concept
aims to promote a sustainable production and consump-
tion model. By sharing, leasing, repairing, refurbishing and
recycling materials and products, the aim is to maximize
product life and minimize waste. Clausthal University of
Technology (TU Clausthal) has adopted the circular econ-
omy as a guiding principle for its research, teaching and
technology transfer activities and has developed a holistic
framework for it.
Although mining is not directly associated with the
circular economy, the concept is not foreign to the indus-
try. However, at the International Council on Mining and
Metals’ (ICMM) Responsible Mining Leadership Forum
2023, it was noted that current mining processes do not
yet sufficiently support the circular economy. Nevertheless,
mining offers great potential to recover and reuse valu-
able raw materials from circular economy and discarded
products.
The redesign of products and processes is a key com-
ponent in the implementation of the circular economy in
mining. Disruptive technologies and innovative concepts
are integrated into strategic mine planning to set clear
goals at the planning stage that maximize resource utiliza-
tion well beyond the life of a mine. In addition, the need
for integrative mine planning in the BM is emphasized,
actively incorporating the four aspects from the conception
of the mining project to the decision on a suitable decom-
missioning strategy and a second economic life in the post-
mining period.
The aspects of energy, ergonomics, water and circular
economy, which characterize the Blue Mining approach,
represent four important elements for modern mines. These
are considered separately in the following sections together
with the implementation options.
Energy as Part of the Blue Mining approach
Underground mining is a method of extracting minerals
by constructing tunnels and shafts to access and extract
valuable deposits. Compared to surface mining methods,
underground mining is often used when deposits are too
deep, irregularly shaped or when the overburdened material
makes surface mining economically unfeasible 12. Energy
consumption is a major challenge, as underground min-
ing relies on energy-intensive machinery and processes for
drilling, blasting, excavation, material handling and trans-
portation. Additional energy is required for ventilation,
lighting, dewatering and cooling systems. The main energy
sources for operations in mines are usually gas, compressed
air, diesel fuel, explosives and electricity. Due to their ver-
satility and mobility, diesel-powered equipment is generally
used. Diesel-powered drilling rigs are used in both open-
cast and underground mines 13. However, the use of diesel
leads to high fuel costs, high greenhouse gas emissions and
problems with underground air quality. In addition, the
necessary energy supply will play a decisive role, as mines
will be located deeper and deeper. In recent decades, the
depth of exploration has increased by an average of around
50 meters per year 14. In addition, a study on copper min-
ing, including underground deposits, found that electricity
costs for mining and processing increase by 7 %for every
additional 100 meters of mining depth 15.
Mining operations are very energy intensive, with
most of the energy during the construction and operational
phases of the mine being generated from fossil fuels. Energy
costs can account for up to 30 %of a mine’s total operat-
ing expenditure 16. It is estimated that the mining industry
consumes around 12 EJ of energy annually, which is equiv-
alent to 3.5 %of total global final energy consumption.
In addition, traditional sources such as fossil fuels like coal
and diesel provide the majority of energy used in mining 17.
Although the environmental impact of electricity
depends on the energy mix of the grid, the increasing energy
demand of the mining industry is increasing the environ-
mental footprint of electricity generation. However, due
to structural change in Germany, this latent challenge also
represents an opportunity for the country’s mining indus-
try. The rate of energy generation from renewable energies
in Germany was already 53.4 %in 2023 and is expected to
be 80 %in 2030 18. There is therefore a growing need for
sustainable and efficient energy solutions, such as electric
vehicles, geothermal energy generation and the integration
of microgrids. The integration of these solutions is defined
by the Blue Mining approach under the concept of a low-
energy mine and its three principles, and its integration can