Industrial, Solar, Sourcing Renewables  -  July 3, 2024

Rio Tinto Adds Two Solar Farms

Rio Tinto will add two 5.25-MW solar farms that will be built on Gumatj and Rirratjingu country on the Gove Peninsula in Australia's Northern Territory.

The solar farms will be built on Rio Tinto leases, following agreement with the Gumatj and Rirratjingu Traditional Owner Groups on the location of the facilities.

Aggreko will construct, own and operate the solar farms for Rio Tinto for up to 10 years. Construction began in July 2024, and completion is scheduled for early 2025. The two sites will have a combined capacity of 10.5 MW.

When completed, the solar farms are expected to reduce the region’s annual diesel consumption by about 20%, or 4.5 million liters, a year and lower annual carbon emissions by over 12,000 tons.

“The Gove solar project is part of our shared vision with Traditional Owners to leave a positive legacy for the Gove Peninsula communities after bauxite mining ceases,” said Rio Tinto Gove Operations Acting General Manager Shannon Price in a statement. “We’re excited to work with the Gumatj and Rirratjingu clans to provide an opportunity to secure alternative electricity generation assets on their country and to discuss opportunities to commercialize energy infrastructure in the future. The solar farms are also part of our ongoing commitment to decarbonise our business. Once operational, they are expected to reduce annual CO2e emissions at our Gove operations by up to 17%.”

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