Rio Tinto has approved the construction of a new 12.4MW solar farm and 8.8MVa/2.1MWh battery storage facility for its Amrun bauxite operations near Weipa, Queensland, to supply renewable energy to the site.

The new solar farm and battery storage facility are part of Rio Tinto’s global decarbonization strategy, which is aimed at reducing carbon emissions from its bauxite, alumina, and aluminum operations in the Pacific.

The new facilities will lower Amrun’s diesel electricity consumption by 37% and annual carbon emissions by 14,000 tons.

The early work has been started, and the operation is expected by early 2025.