PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Mining major Rio Tinto has announced plans to build Canada’s largest solar plant at its Diavik diamond mine.

The solar plant will feature over 6 600 solar panels that will generate approximately 4 200 MWh 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.

Construction will start in coming weeks and the solar power plant will be fully operational in the first half of 2024.

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 a year and reduce emissions by 2 900 t of carbon dioxide equivalent, which is comparable to eliminating the emissions of 630 cars.

“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,” said Rio’s president and COO of the Diavik diamond mine Angela Bigg.

“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 C$3.3-million in funding from the government of the Northwest Territories’ Large Emitters GHG Reducing Investment Grant programme, and C$600 000 from the government of Canada’s Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit.

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.