Rio Tinto to build the largest solar power plant in Canada’s North
August 10 2023 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine will build the largest solar
power plant across Canada’s territories, featuring over 6,600 solar
panels that will generate approximately 4,200 megawatt-hours of
carbon-free electricity annually for the mine.
The solar power plant will provide up to 25% of Diavik’s
electricity during closure work that will run until 2029, with
commercial production from the operation expected to end in early
2026.
The facility will be equipped with bi-facial panels which will
not only generate energy from direct sunlight, but also from the
light that reflects off the snow that covers Diavik for most of the
year. It will cut diesel consumption at the site by approximately
one million liters per year and reduce emissions by 2,900 tonnes of
CO2 equivalent, which is comparable to eliminating the emissions of
630 cars.
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Diavik Diamond Mine
Angela Bigg said: “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.”
The solar power plant will significantly expand Diavik’s
renewable energy generation, which already features a wind-diesel
hybrid power facility that has a capacity of 55.4 MW and provides
the site’s electricity.
The project is supported by CAN$3.3 million in funding from the
Government of the Northwest Territories’ Large Emitters GHG
Reducing Investment Grant program, and CAN$600,000 from the
Government of Canada’s Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit.
Government of the Northwest Territories Finance Minister
Caroline Wawzonek said: “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.”
Diavik is working with the Government of the Northwest
Territories and community partners to determine how its renewable
energy infrastructure can best benefit the region following
closure.
Rio Tinto is progressing decarbonisation initiatives across its
global operations, with the aim of reducing its Scope 1 and 2
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2030 and to achieve net
zero across its operations by 2050.
Construction will start in coming weeks and the solar power
plant will be fully operational in the first half of 2024.
Notes to editors
The Diavik mine, 100 percent owned and operated by Rio Tinto, is
Canada’s largest diamond producer and produces 3.5 to 4.5 million
carats of rough diamonds per annum. Since mining began in 2003
Diavik has produced over 100 million carats of diamonds. Commercial
production is expected to end in the first quarter of 2026.
Under the Large Emitter Greenhouse Gas Reducing Investment Grant
Program, the GNWT set aside twelve per cent (12%) of the total
carbon tax paid by a prescribed large emitter during a fiscal year
and makes the fund available to that emitter for projects that
contribute to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the
Northwest Territories. The Diavik Solar Power Plant is the first
project to be funded by the Large Emitter Greenhouse Gas Reducing
Investment Grant Program.
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