- Rio Tinto plans to develop around 6 GW of wind and solar energy for its Austrlian operations
- For the Pilbara facility, it wants to rapidly deploy 1 GW wind and solar power, along with full electrification of transport, mobile and rails
- For Boyne and Tomago aluminium smelters, it aims to deploy around 5 GW of wind and solar energy, switching completely to renewables
Rio Tinto, the Anglo-Australian metals mining company, has unveiled a long-term strategy to undertake decarbonization efforts with plans to invest around $7.5 billion direct investments to lower emissions between 2022 and 2030. Part of the plans include around 6 GW of wind and solar energy for its Australian operations.
For the company’s aluminum business, it is considering switching the Boyne Island and Tomago smelters in Australia to renewable energy, a step that may require an estimated 5 GW of solar and wind power with a ‘robust firming solution’. While nothing is final as yet, the management said options are progressing.
For the Pilbara iron ore mining operations, Rio Tinto wants to accelerate decarbonization by targeting rapid deployment of 1 GW of wind and solar energy. It would replace natural gas power for plant and infrastructure.
Plans also involve full electrification of its Pilbara system including all transport, mobile and rail operations which Rio Tinto said ‘require further GW-scale renewable deployment and advances in fleet technologies’. It will also develop technologies for carbon-free aluminum and explore ‘multiple pathways’ to produce green steel.
Rio Tinto aims to reduce its Scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, and 15% reduction in emissions for 2025 from a 2018 baseline.
In February 2020, Rio Tinto announced its 1st self-owned solar power plant in Pilbara with 34 MW capacity and 12 MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system (see Solar & Storage For Australian Iron Ore Mine).
