Mining behemoth Rio Tinto has approved a $98 million solar + battery energy storage system at its Koodaideri mine in the Pilbara, Western Australia (WA). The company is investing in solar PV and energy storage as it looks to reduce carbon emissions from its coal operations.
This project will be the first time Rio Tinto has actually owned a solar facility, with the exception of a 6.7 MW solar array at its remote bauxite operation in Weipa, Queensland, which has been supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). Its new installations – a 34 MW solar PV plant – will supply approximately 65% of the Koodaideri iron ore mine’s power demands. It is estimated that the combined project could lower Rio Tinto’s carbon dioxide emissions by 90,000 tons per year, which is the equivalent of removing 28,000 cars from the road.
With construction expected to begin later this year and conclude in 2021, the project will consist of an estimated 100,000 panels accompanied by a 12 MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system (ESS). The ESS will be located in the town of Tom Price (named after Thomas Moore Price, former vice-president of U.S. steel company Kaiser Steel), where it will provide spinning reserve capacity for the entire Pilbara power network.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Chris Salisbury said the solar PV plant is a significant milestone for the company, “and an important step in reducing our carbon footprint in the region.”
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“We are investigating additional renewable energy options in the Pilbara, as well as other opportunities to reduce emissions across our entire global portfolio, building on the 43% reduction in absolute greenhouse gas emissions since 2008,” said Salisbury.
Of course, Rio Tinto is not the only mining giant to make the switch to renewables in the Pilbara. In a landmark agreement with Alinta Energy late last year, it was announced that Fortescue Metals would use solar power for up to 100% of its daytime energy needs at its Chichester Hub iron ore operation.
The Koodaideri iron ore mine is a AUD 3.5 billion investment for Rio Tinto.
By Blake Matich
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