Rio Tinto embarks on 80-MW solar project to power WA mining ops

Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) on Monday unveiled plans to develop an 80-MW solar project that will facilitate the supply of green power for its iron ore mining activities in Western Australia.

The project will be realised as a joint effort with the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation (NAC), an umbrella organisation for a network of over 50 Indigenous entities. The project is the first one to be undertaken after NAC and the mining giant sealed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore renewable energy opportunities.

The proposed photovoltaic (PV) park will be built on land in Ngarluma Country, near the city of Karratha in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and in proximity to Rio Tinto’s existing Yurralyi Maya Power Station. Once commissioned, it will be able to displace up to 11% of natural gas currently used for power generation across the miner’s sites in the Pilbara region.

A feasibility study for the project is due to be finalised early next year, with the PV park’s commissioning expected to take place in 2027.

According to Rio Tinto’s calculations, the solar farm’s operations could reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by up to 120,000 tonnes annually. The miner noted it will need between 600 MW and 700 MW of renewable energy by 2030 to displace the majority of gas used across its Pilbara power network.

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