Diversified mining company Rio Tinto is investing in its first company-owned solar facility, with about 100 000 solar panels set to supply electricity to its new Koodaideri mine in Australia’s Pilbara.
The company is investing $98-million in a 34 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, which is complemented by a 12 MWh battery energy storage system in Tom Price to help power its entire Pilbara power network.
The PV plant is expected to supply all Koodaideri’s electricity demand during peak solar power generation times and about 65% of the mine’s average electricity demand.