1165 6. DISCUSSION Implications for Mining Decarbonization: Reducing diesel consumption and direct emissions while maintaining (or improving) productivity is critical for practical decarbonization in mining. Controlled hydrogen injection provides an incremental pathway that can be deployed on existing fleets without immediate full fleet replacement. Limitations and Challenges: Key considerations include deionized water supply logistics, long‑term impacts on NOₓ and engine durability, and robust safety protocols for hydrogen handling and system interlocks. Scalability and Future Work: Future work should address scale‑up to larger fleets and other truck classes, electrolyzer efficiency improvements, integration with energy recovery strategies, and life cycle assessment (LCA) considering the electricity source for electrolysis. 7. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained in this study demonstrate that the implementation of an embedded system for controlled hydrogen generation and addition in transport trucks in open-pit mines constitutes a technically and economically viable alternative for decarbonization in the mining sector. The case study, conducted under operational conditions, showed a 10.07% reduction in diesel consumption, corresponding to an annual saving of approximately 7,049 L per truck, as well as measurable operational gains, including a 4.50% increase in average speed and a 5.26% increase in productivity. From an environmental perspective, this reduction in consumption implies a direct mitigation of approximately 19 t CO₂/year per truck, considering average emission factors for fossil fuels, reinforcing the potential of the technology as an instrument for aligning mining operations with decarbonization goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the sector. From an economic-financial perspective, the investment analysis demonstrates attractiveness. Considering an average diesel price of US1.51/L, the estimated annual savings are around US 10,600 per truck. The initial investment (CAPEX), including the electrolyzer, control system, and onboard communication integration, amounts to approximately US$ 3,000 per unit. These values result in a payback period of approximately 0.3 years (3 to 4 months), characterizing a short capital recovery cycle compatible with high-efficiency industrial projects. REFERENCES Ajanovic, A.; Sayer, M.; Haas, R. (2022). The economics and the environmental benignity of different colors of hydrogen. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, v. 47, n. 57, p. 24136-24154, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.02.094. Al-Dawody, M. F.; Al-Farhany, K. A.; Allami, S.; Al-Chlaihawi, k. K. I.; Jamshed, W.; EL DIN, S. M. (2023) Using oxy-hydrogen gas to enhance efficacy and reduce emissions of diesel engine. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, p. 102217, 2023. Figueiredo, R. l.; Arroyo, C.E; Silva, J. M. (2023) Importance of hydrogen in the mining industry as a renewable energy source. Journal of Environmental Analysis and Progress, v. 03, n. 2525– 815X, p. 240–251. Figueiredo, R. L.; Silva, J. M. Arroyo, C. E. Green hydrogen: Decarbonization in mining - Review. Cleaner Energy Systems, v. 5, p. 100075, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cles.2023.100075.
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