North Canada to Welcome its Biggest Solar Plant from Mining Group Rio Tinto

North Canada to Welcome its Biggest Solar Plant from Mining Group Rio Tinto

Spain’s mining group Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine is set to establish the largest solar power plant across Canada’s territories. The plant will boast of more than 6,600 solar panels. The project will generate close to 4,200 MWh of carbon-free electricity annually for the mine.

Commercial production from the operation is slated for completion in early 2026.

Bi-facial panels will help generate energy from the light reflecting off the snow, covering Diavik for a large part of the year. The plant will also curb diesel usage at the site by about one million liters annually, cutting emissions by 2,900 tonnes of carbon equivalent.

Angela Bigg, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Diavik Diamond Mine, stated, “I am delighted that we will be significantly increasing our renewable power generation with the largest solar power plant in Canada’s northern territories at the Diavik Diamond Mine. Through its wind-diesel hybrid power facility, Diavik is already a leader in cold climate renewable technology and this important project reinforces our dedication to reducing our carbon footprint. I would like to thank both the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada for their support to deploy this project.”

Diavik has already established a wind-diesel hybrid power unit with 55.4 MW of capacity. Support has been lent to the project via CAN$3.3 million in funding from the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Large Emitters GHG Reducing Investment Grant program, and an additional CAN$600,000 from the Government of Canada’s Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit.

Caroline Wawzonek, Government of the Northwest Territories Finance Minister, added, “The Diavik solar power plant is a welcome sign of Rio Tinto’s commitment to renewable energy and reducing emissions. The Government of the Northwest Territories is pleased to have provided support through the Large Emitters GHG Reducing Investment Grant program, one of the original pieces of our made-in-the-NWT approach to the federal carbon tax. This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to facilitating sustainable development while reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Northwest Territories and should be a signal of how our economic development can continue to position us as leaders in these spaces.”

Rio Tinto is looking at reducing its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2030. It hopes to achieve net zero across its global operations by 2050.

Rio Tinto’s first company-owned solar facility was announced in 2020 when Rio Tinto approved a $98 million (100 percent basis) investment in a new solar plant at the Koodaideri mine in the Pilbara, Australia, as well as a lithium-ion battery energy storage system to help power its entire Pilbara power network.