Rio Tinto’s new solar power plant at Diavik Diamond Mine could generate 4.2 million kilowatt-hours of solar energy annually, thus cutting diesel usage and greenhouse gas emissions.

The 3.5-megawatt capacity solar power plant in Canada’s Northwest Territories represents the largest off-grid solar power plant across Canada’s territories, according to Rio Tinto.

The 6,620-panel facility is expected to generate 4.2 million kilowatt-hours of solar energy annually, thereby reducing diesel consumption at Diavik by one million litres per year and cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2,900 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. This is comparable to removing 630 cars from the road each year.

The solar power plant will provide up to 25 per cent of Diavik’s electricity during closure work, with commercial production at the mine expected to end in 2026 and closure to run until 2029. The facility is equipped with bi-facial panels which 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.

The solar project complements a wind power plant at Diavik, which has been operating since 2012 and is the largest wind power installation in Canada’s North, having generated over 195 million kilowatt-hours of electricity since activation.

Matthew Breen, chief operating officer of Diavik, said, “This is our latest commitment to the environment we live and work in, and will improve the energy efficiency of our operations at Diavik. We are proud to lead the way for large-scale renewable energy projects in Canada’s North.”

Rio Tinto is progressing decarbonisation initiatives across its global operations, with the aim of reducing its Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and to achieve net zero across its operations by 2050.

The solar power plant project was supported by C$3.3 million (around US$2.42 million) in funding from the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Large Emitters GHG Reducing Investment Grant Program.