System and method for providing power to a mining operation

A system for employing gravity to provide electrical power for mining operations in a mine, wherein the mine has a shaft extending downward from the earth's surface to a chamber and a deposit having an ore face positioned between the chamber and the earth's surface, such that the chamber is disposed downwardly from the ore face, the system comprising:

• a ramp extending between the ore face and the chamber;
• a power grid for powering the mining operations, wherein the power grid is disposed within the chamber;
• a zero-emissions vehicle including a kinetic energy capture system;
• a battery on the zero-emissions vehicle and configured to power the zero-emissions vehicle when attached to the zero-emissions vehicle and to receive power from the kinetic energy capture system when the zero-emissions vehicle travels down the ramp carrying a load from the ore face to the chamber;
• and
• a discharging device configured to discharge energy out of the battery and into the power grid only when the first battery is attached to the discharging device in the chamber.

A system for employing gravity to provide electrical power for mining operations in a mine, wherein the mine has a shaft extending downward from the earth's surface and a deposit having an ore face positioned below the earth's surface, the system comprising:

• a chamber positioned at a bottom of the shaft , wherein the chamber is positioned further below the earth's surface than the ore face is positioned;
• a ramp extending between the ore face and the chamber;
• a power grid for powering the mining operations, wherein the power grid is disposed within the chamber;
• a zero-emissions vehicle including a kinetic energy capture system;
• a first battery on the zero-emissions vehicle and configured to power the zero-emissions vehicle when attached to the zero-emissions vehicle and to receive power from the kinetic energy capture system when the zero-emissions vehicle travels down the ramp carrying a load from the ore face to the chamber;
• and
• a discharging device configured to discharge energy out of the first battery and into the power grid only when the first battery is attached to the discharging device in the chamber.