Energy Procurement, GHG Emissions, Industrial, Solar  -  December 5, 2023

Rio Tinto Adds Solar in Queensland

As part of Rio Tinto's global decarbonization strategy and ongoing efforts to reduce emissions, a 12.4MW solar farm with battery storage will be built at its Pacific bauxite, alumina, and aluminum operations near Weipa in Queensland.

The project is expected to reduce Amrun’s diesel electricity consumption by 37% and annual CO2-equivalent emissions by 14,000 tons, and will add to the existing 5.6MW of solar and 4MWh of battery power built for Rio Tinto’s Weipa operations and the local electricity network since 2015.

Aggreko has been contracted to build, own, and operate the solar farm that will supply renewable electricity to mine operations, in addition to its current contract to supply electricity generated from an existing diesel power station.

“The construction of the Amrun solar farm and battery storage system, which is located on Wik and Wik-Waya Traditional lands, is an important milestone for Weipa Operations and will contribute to Rio Tinto’s commitment to reduce operational greenhouse gas emissions,” Rio Tinto Weipa Operations General Manager Shona Markham said in a statement. “The Amrun solar farm will be one of three Weipa Operations solar stations, which will together provide 18MW of solar generation capacity to our mines and the Weipa town. This project helps us make inroads towards our ambitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our operations.”

The solar farm is expected to be operational by early 2025. Once completed, the Amrun solar farm will provide about 21 gigawatt hours of renewable power annually.

Combined with the existing Weipa renewable power generation network, the solar farms will reduce Weipa Operations’ diesel consumption by an estimated 10 million liters per year and lower its annual GHG emissions by about 28,000 tons.

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