Rio Tinto announced on Tuesday the successful installation of a 3.5-megawatt solar system at its Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada's Northwest Territories. This initiative forms part of the company's strategy to decrease diesel consumption at the site.
The solar plant, consisting of 6,620 bifacial solar panels, is projected to generate 4.2 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean electricity annually, effectively offsetting the use of one million litres of diesel per year. The project received CAD 3.3 million (USD 2.40 million / EUR 2.24 million) in funding from the Government of the Northwest Territories' Large Emitters GHG Reducing Investment Grant Program.
The new solar facility is expected to cover up to 25% of Diavik's electricity needs during the planned closure of the mine, which is scheduled for completion by 2029 following the end of commercial production in 2026.
Described as the largest off-grid solar power plant in Canada's territories, the installation complements an existing wind farm at Diavik that has generated over 1.95 GWh of power since its establishment in 2012.
Rio Tinto initially announced plans for the solar project in August 2023, with construction commencing in February 2024. The project was executed in partnership with Whitehorse-based Solvest Inc and the Indigenous-owned Tlicho Investment Corporation, with collaboration from Diavik.
