Rio Tinto has completed installation of a 3.5-megawatt solar power plant at its Diavik diamond mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories, which is the largest off-grid solar power plant across the country.
The company expects that the facility will generate 4.2 million kilowatt-hours of solar energy annually, reducing diesel consumption at Diavik by one million litres per year and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2,900 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
“This is comparable to removing 630 cars from the road each year,” Rio Tinto said in a statement.
The solar power plant will provide up to 25% 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 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.
“The largest off-grid solar power plant in Canada’s North 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,” said Diavik’s COO Matthew Breen.
Construction of a 6,620-panel solar array began in February 2024. The project was supported by C$3.3 million in funding from the Government of the Northwest Territories. Diavik is working with the authorities and community partners to determine how its renewable energy infrastructure can best benefit the region following the mine’s closure.
Theodor Lisovoy, Editor in Chief, Rough&Polished
