Rio Tinto has approved the construction of a 25 MW solar plant at its Kennecott copper operation in Utah, increasing the site’s total solar capacity to 30 MW. The new plant will be built adjacent to Kennecott’s existing 5 MW solar facility, which was completed in 2023. Together, these installations will reduce the mine’s Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 6%, equating to 21,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually—the equivalent of removing around 5,000 gas-powered passenger cars from the road.
The 25 MW solar plant is expected to be operational next year. Its construction will create short-term employment for up to 100 workers, along with a small number of permanent roles for operations and maintenance. Bechtel Corporation has been contracted to design and oversee the construction of the project.
Kennecott, recognized as one of the lowest-carbon copper producers in the United States, has achieved an over 80% reduction in its carbon footprint since 2018. This has been achieved through measures such as decommissioning a coal-fired power plant, establishing the 5 MW solar farm, transitioning its mining fleet to renewable diesel, and deploying battery electric vehicles in underground operations.
Nate Foster, Managing Director of Rio Tinto Kennecott, emphasized the significance of the expansion:
“Expanding our solar farm is another step forward in reducing our carbon footprint. Alongside initiatives like retiring a coal power plant, adopting battery electric vehicles underground, and transitioning to renewable diesel, we’ve reduced our emissions by millions of tonnes over recent years. This demonstrates that sustainable practices can align with resource production, benefitting both our company and the community.”
The 210-acre solar array will feature over 71,000 panels, incorporating tellurium produced as a by-product of Kennecott’s copper mining and refining processes. In 2022, Kennecott became one of only two U.S. producers of tellurium, a critical mineral used in photovoltaic solar panels alongside copper, both vital for renewable energy technologies.
