Rio Tinto Will Triple Weipa’s Solar Capacity


Rio Tinto’s Weipa operations in northern Queensland include three bauxite mines and processing facilities.
Rio Tinto has approved a new solar farm and battery storage at Weipa in Queensland, in a move that will more than triple the local electricity network’s solar generation capacity and help provide cleaner power to Rio Tinto’s operations. Under the plans, EDL has been contracted to build, own and operate a 4-megawatt (MW) solar plant and 4 MW/4 MWh of battery storage at Weipa. Work on the battery facilities will start this year, with construction of the whole project expected to be complete by late 2022.

The new solar farm and battery storage will complement the existing 1.6-MW solar farm at Weipa, which was completed in 2015 and is also owned and operated by EDL. The 4-MWh battery system will be built next to the existing Weipa power station and will help provide a stable power network for Rio Tinto’s Weipa Operation’s bauxite mines and the Weipa township.

“The new solar farm and battery storage at Weipa will help us lower our carbon footprint and diesel use in a reliable way,” Rio Tinto Aluminium Pacific Bauxite Operations General Manager Michelle Elvy said. “The original Weipa solar farm was the largest solar facility at an off-grid Australian mine site at the time it was built, and it played an important role in showing the viability of renewable energy systems in remote locations.” The new solar farm and battery storage system is part of the company’s commitment to reduce emissions across the operations.

“EDL will be leveraging expertise from our hybrid renewable energy systems around Australia to deliver clean and reliable energy for Rio Tinto’s operations and the local community,” EDL Chief Executive Officer James Harman said. “When complete, the combined 4-MW solar capacity and 4 MW/4 MWh battery will provide about 11 gigawatt hours of energy annually.” The improvements will reduce Weipa Operations’ diesel consumption by an estimated 7 million liters per year and lower its annual carbon dioxide emissions by about 20,000 metric tons.

As featured in Womp 2021 Vol 10 - www.womp-int.com