Mining around the world for minerals from coal to diamonds is an enormous industry with annual sales measured in the trillions of dollars. Most mining activity occurs in remote locations, miles from the nearest conventional sources of power. Mining operations also entail the bulk movement of earth and minerals on a massive scale. In the vast majority of these operations, electric power is generated on site via diesel engine driven generators and/or steam driven generators.

Diesel fuel can only be brought into the mining sites in bulk at specific times of the year. Mines located in the polar or near-polar regions can only bring in fuel when the ground is frozen to the point that the soil will support the weight of the transport trucks. However, the transportation cycle must be completed prior to the full onslaught of winter conditions that make such transport overland extremely hazardous if not impossible. Diesel fuel is also a hazardous material in terms of accidental release into the environment and is often regulated as such by local jurisdictions.