Rio Tinto to build 80MW solar PV plant in Western Australia

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
This project could replace up to 11% of the natural gas used for power in Rio Tinto’s Pilbara mining operations. Image: Rio Tinto.

British-Australian multinational mining company Rio Tinto has announced a plan to build a 80MW solar PV plant to supply power to its company’s iron ore operations in the Pilbara region, Western Australia.

The solar PV plant will be built in collaboration with the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation. It will be located next to Rio Tinto’s existing Yurralyi Maya Power Station near Karratha.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

A feasibility study of the project is expected to be completed in early 2025, while the project will be operational in 2027.

Rio Tinto added that a total of 600MW-700MW of renewables will be required by 2030 to displace the majority of gas use across Rio Tinto’s Pilbara power network. Additional renewables will be required to support widespread fleet electrification, which is expected after 2030.

“Developments like this are about more than reducing emissions – they’re critical for economic opportunities and strengthening our connection with the Ngarluma People,” said Richard Cohen, managing director of rail, port and core services at Rio Tinto.

Earlier this month, Rio Tinto announced a plan to develop two 5.25MW solar farms in the Gove Peninsula of the Northern Territory, Australia. The solar farms will be developed in Gumatj and Rirratjingu country, both Aboriginal communities, on Rio Tinto leases. This is following agreements with the Gumatj and Rirratjingu Traditional Owner Groups.

Rio Tinto also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Aboriginal energy partnership the Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) prior to the development of solar and wind projects in the Pilbara region. It added that the MOU will relate to some of the projects in the YEC’s Stage 1 plans for 750MW of combined solar, wind and battery storage projects.

Read Next

June 10, 2025
Australia’s Queensland government has confirmed an AU$2.4 billion investment in the CopperString transmission project, aiming to extend the National Electricity Market (NEM) to the North West Minerals Province.
June 9, 2025
Sonnedix has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Renfe to supply 420GWh of renewable energy annually for its commercial operations.
June 9, 2025
Growing political headwinds threaten to dent US solar manufacturing and project deployment, despite a strong start to 2025.
June 6, 2025
rPlus Energies has secured more than US$500 million for an 800MW solar-plus-storage project in Emery County, Utah, US.  
June 6, 2025
Australia’s Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has called on Australia’s climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, to “urgently intervene” on a rule change that could threaten to derail the uptake of rooftop solar PV.
June 6, 2025
ElectraNet has revealed that renewables supplied 100% of South Australia's electricity demand for 27% of 2024, roughly 99 days.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece