[ZeroGravitas]

Rio Tinto's smelters in Australia are already deploying batteries and renewables because relying on coal would make them too expensive:

https://reneweconomy.com.au/rio-tinto-signs-massive-solar-an...

> There is no reason why, in some places, (firm and reliable supply) cannot be achieved via a mix of intermittent renewables, provided that this mix is ‘firmed’ via batteries and other sources.

> “The hurdle here is not technical, it is, … the overall net economic cost of the combined solution. This is materially helped by the continuous downward trend of battery costs, but the incremental cost of the last percentages of firming can indeed prove expensive.”

(Also of relevance, Australia is actually replacing some long distance grid connections with mini solar grids as a cost reduction move, which suggests mini grids are the right option for remote communities)