Rio Tinto approves solar farm and battery storage facility for Amrun
A 12.4MW solar farm and 8.8MVa/2.1MWh battery storage facility have been approved by Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) to provide renewable energy for the Amrun bauxite operations near Weipa in Queensland.
The solar farm and battery storage facility are part of Rio’s global decarbonisation strategy and ongoing efforts to reduce emissions at its Pacific bauxite, alumina and aluminium operations.
Both of these are expected to reduce Amrun’s diesel electricity consumption by 37% and the annual carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 14kt. It will also add to the existing 5.6MW of solar and 4MWh of battery power for Rio’s Weipa operations.
Aggreko was contracted to build, own and operate the solar farm, in addition to its current contract to supply electricity generated from an existing diesel power station.
Rio Tinto’s Weipa general manager Shona Markham says the construction of the solar farm and battery storage system is an important milestone for Weipa.
“The Amrun solar farm will be one of three Weipa operations solar station, which will together provide 18MW of solar generation capacity to our mines and the Weipa town,” she said.
“This project helps us make inroads towards our ambitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our operations.”
Early work has begun on the solar farm which is expected to be operational by early 2025. Once completed, it will provide around 21 gigawatt hours of renewable power annually.
Combined with the existing Weipa renewable power generation network, the solar farms will reduce Weipa’s diesel consumption by around 10mlpa and lower greenhouse gas emissions by 28kt.
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