Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine to build Canada’s largest northern solar plant

Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine is taking a monumental leap towards a sustainable future, unveiling plans to construct the most expansive solar power plant in Canada’s Northern Territories. This ambitious initiative will incorporate more than 6,600 solar panels, producing around 4,200 megawatt-hours of eco-friendly electricity every year.

Harnessing the Power of the Sun and Snow

The innovative bi-facial panels at the facility are primed to optimize energy collection, drawing power from both direct sunlight and the reflective light from the snow blanketing Diavik most of the year. This strategic implementation is projected to slash diesel consumption by a whopping one million liters annually, translating to a reduction of 2,900 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions. This impressive cutback is tantamount to removing 630 vehicles off the roads.

Angela Bigg, the COO of the Diavik Diamond Mine, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I am delighted that we will be significantly increasing our renewable power generation with the largest solar power plant in Canada’s northern territories at the Diavik Diamond Mine… I would like to thank both the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada for their support to deploy this project.”

Boosting Diavik’s Green Energy Portfolio

The Diavik Diamond Mine is no stranger to pioneering green energy. The mine already boasts a wind-diesel hybrid power facility, with a hefty capacity of 55.4 MW, supplying electricity to the site. This new solar endeavor further cements its commitment to leading the charge in cold climate renewable technology.

Support for the project isn’t scarce, with the Government of the Northwest Territories allocating CAD $3.3 million through their Large Emitters GHG Reducing Investment Grant program. An additional CAD $600,000 is being chipped in by the Government of Canada’s Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit.

The Northwest Territories Finance Minister, Caroline Wawzonek, applauded Rio Tinto’s vision, saying, “The Diavik solar power plant is a welcome sign of Rio Tinto’s commitment to renewable energy and reducing emissions… This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to facilitating sustainable development while reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Northwest Territories.”

Focusing on Community and Global Goals

Post-closure, the Diavik Diamond Mine is in discussions with the Government of the Northwest Territories and local partners to determine how this renewable energy infrastructure can be a boon to the surrounding region.

Rio Tinto’s overarching strategy is clear: champion decarbonisation across all its worldwide operations. Their goals are set, aiming to halve Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and reach a net zero status by 2050. As the construction gears up in the following weeks, the solar power plant is expected to be operational by the first half of 2024.