Rio Tinto to build largest solar power plant in Canada's North

The Diavik Diamond Mine will have more than 6,600 panels and generate approximately 4,200MWh of electricity annually for the mine.

The plant will provide up to a quarter of the mine's electricity during closure that will run until 2029, with commercial production expected to end in early 2026.

The bi-facial panels generate energy from direct sunlight and also through reflected light from snow that covers Diavik for most of the year. Rio Tinto says that it will cut diesel consumption at the site by around 1mln litres a year and reduce emissions by 2,900tCO₂e - 630 cars' worth.

Diavik's electricity is currently powered by a 55.4MW wind-diesel hybrid facility.

The project has received a CAN$3.9mln from government funds in total.

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