Rio Tinto has announced plans to increase its solar power capacity at the Kennecott copper operation in Utah with the addition of a 25-MW solar facility.
The new solar farm will be located next to an existing 5-MW site, completed in 2023, bringing the mine's total solar capacity to 30 MW.
The new facility will consist of over 71,000 solar panels, which will incorporate tellurium produced by the Kennecott operation. Bechtel Corporation will manage the design and construction of the project, which is expected to be completed by 2025.
The expanded solar capacity is projected to reduce the Kennecott mine's Scope 2 emissions by approximately 6%. This project is part of Rio Tinto's broader efforts to lower its carbon footprint, which has already been reduced by over 80% since 2018, through initiatives such as shutting down its coal-powered power plant, increasing solar power use, and transitioning to renewable diesel for its mining fleet.
