Alec Patterson is Chief Programme Manager at WAE with programme responsibility across the electrification of all FMG’s heavy mining equipment (HME). Alec works closely with global OEMs to ensure that WAE’s electric power system products are correctly integrated and performance targets are met in order to achieve challenging decarbonisation targets.
As a chartered Mechanical Engineer with a background in automotive engineering, Alec moved to WAE to help deliver high performance electrification projects.
“FMG’s decarbonisation target is a huge challenge and the sheer scale of everything is enormous. From a programme management & engineering perspective it’s incredibly exciting – we’re planning to be the first to deliver a complete clean technology solution in the surface mining industry which will have a huge impact on the environment. Ultimately it will take out 1 billion litres of diesel per year, by 2030”
“The vehicles with the biggest diesel usage are the 240 tonne trucks, and a team are working on the development of an optimised electrical power system solution that includes batteries, power distribution units, DCDC converters, cooling systems and charging systems. All of this will be designed to operate in challenging conditions; dust, high temperature, rough roads and heavy rain. Our battery work in Extreme E has provided valuable learnings although this is on a much, much bigger scale!”
