Decarbonizing Strategy in Action
Rio Tinto, a global mining giant, has greenlit a 12.4MW solar farm and 8.8MVa/2.1MWh battery storage for its Amrun bauxite operations in Queensland. This move aligns with Rio Tinto’s worldwide decarbonization strategy to cut emissions at its Pacific bauxite, alumina, and aluminum facilities.
Significant Environmental Impact
The approved solar farm and battery storage are anticipated to slash Amrun’s diesel electricity usage by 37%, resulting in a 14,000-tonne reduction in annual CO2-equivalent emissions. This project supplements the existing 5.6MW solar and 4MWh battery capacity, established since 2015 at Rio Tinto’s Weipa operations.
Aggreko, the selected contractor, will construct, own, and operate the solar farm, contributing renewable electricity to the mine operations. Shona Markham, Rio Tinto Weipa Operations General Manager, emphasizes the importance of this project in the broader commitment to reducing operational greenhouse gas emissions.
Milestone in Renewable Energy
The Amrun solar farm, set to be one of three solar stations in Weipa Operations, aims to deliver 18MW of solar generation capacity. With early works underway, the project is expected to be operational by early 2025, providing approximately 21 gigawatt hours of renewable power annually. This, combined with the existing Weipa renewable power network, is projected to cut Weipa Operations’ diesel consumption by an estimated 10 million liters per year, reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by about 28,000 tonnes – equivalent to removing over 6,000 internal combustion engine passenger cars from the road.
Aggreko Asia Pacific Managing Director, George Whyte, expresses excitement about supporting Rio Tinto in achieving decarbonization goals and confirms their commitment to delivering reliable and efficient energy for the Amrun operations.
Source: businesswire.com
