Rio Tinto launches tender for 4GW of onshore renewables in Australia

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Rio Tinto’s Boyne smelter in Gladstone will be one of the three facilities to be powered through the 4GW RFP it is seeking. Image: Rio Tinto.

Mining company Rio Tinto has launched a request for proposals (RFP) to develop large-scale solar PV and wind power in Australia.

It is seeking proposals that could provide, in parallel with power firming solutions, more than 4GW of renewables in Central and Southern Queensland to power its aluminium assets.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The renewables would be used to power its three production assets – the Boyne smelter (pictured above), the Yarwun alumina refinery and the Queensland Alumina refinery – in the Gladstone region through the Queensland grid by 2030.

Ivan Vella, chief executive at Rio Tinto Aluminium, said: “As Queensland’s largest energy user, we have an important role to play in driving the development of competitive renewable energy sources for our Gladstone assets and supporting the State’s renewable energy targets.”

The RFP follows Rio Tinto’s push in October 2021 to halve its carbon emissions by 2030 with the additional deployment of 6GW of solar and wind power in Australia.

Read Next

May 15, 2026
ADB and Solomon Islands Electricity Authority (SIEA) have signed an agreement to develop the country's first large-scale solar PV plant.
May 12, 2026
Iberdrola Australia has completed the installation of solar modules at its 377MW Broadsound solar-plus-storage project in Central Queensland.
May 11, 2026
Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) has reached financial close on the 150MW Jinbi solar PV power plant in Western Australia's Pilbara region and signed a 30-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with mining giant Rio Tinto.
May 7, 2026
Nova Energy & Meridian Energy have marked the installation of the first modules at the 400MW Te Rahui Solar Farm in Rangitāiki in New Zealand.
May 5, 2026
Australia's utility-scale solar PV and wind assets generated a combined 4.7TWh in April 2026, up 24% from 3.8TWh in the same month last year, according to data from Rystad Energy.
Premium
May 5, 2026
April 2026 delivered a continuation of Australia's seasonal solar contraction as the NEM moved deeper into autumn.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
May 20, 2026
Porto, Portugal
Upcoming Webinars
May 27, 2026
9am BST / 10am CEST
Upcoming Webinars
May 27, 2026
9am BST / 10am CEST
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
June 2, 2026
Johannesburg, South Africa
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
June 3, 2026
National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai)