Since starting operations as an independent business unit under the banner of the BBE Group in March 2011, BBEnergy has been awarded four South African mining projects worth a total of R60 million within its first four months of operation. These projects include design and implementation of technologies such as guide vane control of main fans, pump scheduling and optimisation systems, and refrigeration scheduling and optimisation systems. The company states that it is “attracting a great deal of attention in the industry for its deep level mine refrigeration and ventilation capabilities and its world-leading prototype solar irradiation energy collector technologies.”

BBEnergy has implemented energy management projects at Impala platinum mine, Kloof gold mine, Driefontein gold mine and more recently, at Moab Khotsong mine. The energy management system at Moab Khotsong, including automatic inlet guide vane control, can be retrofitted to existing surface fan stations during an off-weekend with minimum disruption to mining operations. This control system allows the fans to operate at reduced flow and power consumption during peak electrical demand periods, while still maintaining high-efficiency operation. BBEnergy has also designed, developed and constructed the first linear Fresnel concentrated solar energy collector in South Africa. The collector has been optimised for local environment conditions and constraints using simple and reliable engineering, with almost 100% local content.

Chris Nell, MD of BBEnergy, says there is huge potential for energy projects in South Africa and beyond its borders. “The energy market is growing and any company with the right culture and mix of professionals will show impressive growth over the next five years. Our vision is first to become South Africa’s leading Energy Services Company (ESCO) and then to become a leading local player in solar technologies. In the long term, we intend to expand our services abroad. We’re excited about the rapid build-up of a team of highly skilled staff. Our entire team is comprised of engineers, two with MBAs, three with PhDs and others with Honours or Masters in engineering. The team has a spectrum of energy-related expertise in areas such as energy management, mine modelling, optimisation of ventilation, refrigeration, compressed air and water pumping systems and the development of scientific software systems. All this adds significant value to our client base with regards to Demand Side Management, strategic use of electricity and overall energy efficiency.”

Nell says power and energy management in the area of mine ventilation, refrigeration and cooling is an integral part of BBEnergy’s expertise and competency. BBEnergy is registered as an ESCO with the South African national power supply company, ESKOM. This recognises technical competency and financial sustainability in the field of energy efficiency and load-shift management for mine cooling, refrigeration and ventilation systems. The company also has experience in energy recovery systems such as Pelton wheel turbines, reverse running pump turbines and three-chamber pipe-feeder systems. Current research and development initiatives include concentrated solar energy systems and energy recovery systems appropriate to the mining industry.