Rio Tinto Ltd has greenlit an expansion of solar power at its Kennecott copper operation in Utah with a new 25-MW facility.
The 210-acre solar farm will be located adjacent to the existing 5-MW site, completed in 2023, boosting the total solar capacity at the mine to 30 MW.
The new facility will feature over 71,000 panels, utilizing tellurium produced by Kennecott.
Bechtel Corporation has been contracted to design and oversee the construction of the solar plant, which is expected to be operational by 2025.
Once completed, the two solar plants will help reduce Scope 2 emissions by approximately 6%.
Since 2018, the Kennecott mine has successfully cut its carbon footprint by over 80%, thanks to initiatives such as the closure of its coal-powered plant, the integration of solar power, and the transition of its mining fleet to renewable diesel.