The chief of operations for Australia said on Friday that global miner Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) had received multiple proposals to construct 4 GW of wind and solar farms to power its alumina and aluminum operations in Queensland.
As the largest single energy consumer in the nation, Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) Chief Executive Officer Australia Kellie Parker said the business had received offers for “a lot more than the 4 GW” that it had requested in its proposal request, which was essential to reducing its carbon emissions.
Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) announced in June that it was looking for proposals to build at least 4,000 MW, or 4 GW, of wind and solar power, backed up by energy storage, which would be required to supply steady power to its Boyne aluminum smelter, Yarwun alumina refinery, and Queensland alumina refinery, which require a combined 1,140 megawatts (MW) of reliable power. Parker did not provide a Friday cost estimate for the improvements.
She said in a speech to the Melbourne Mining Club that they all understand Australia remains an expensive location to build, so it won’t be easy. Before the significant expansion of renewable energy, which would equal more than a third of Australia’s current installed wind and solar capacity, could begin, several problems must be resolved.
Parker said that a coordinated grid solution in Queensland will be critical and requires the collaboration of suppliers, users, regulators, transmission providers, and policymakers. Technology will also play an important role, Parker added.
She said the company hadn’t decided what function it would play in producing or supplying renewable energy because the bids it had gotten called for it to be the project’s owner, operator, partner, investor, and customer.
Featured Image: Megapixl © Viewimage
