Rio Tinto said the new solar power plant will feature more than 6,600 bifacial PV panels. They will generate energy from direct sunlight and from the light that reflects off the snow. It is expected the facility will generate approximately 4.2 GWh of clean energy per year, or up to 25% of Diavik’s power needs.

Diavik Diamond Mine President and Chief Operating Officer Angela Bigg said the solar plant will significantly expand the operation’s existing renewable energy generation, which already features a wind-diesel hybrid power facility that has a capacity of 55.4 MW.

“We will be significantly increasing our renewable power generation with the largest solar power plant in Canada’s northern territories,” she said. “The combination of solar and wind power will work well together as solar is more predictable than wind, but wind can generate power at all times of the day. Having both will provide more consistent renewable generation.”

Rio Tinto, which is targeting net zero emissions across its global operations by 2050, expects the solar plant to reduce diesel consumption at the Diavik site by approximately 1 million liters per year and reduce carbon emissions by 2,900 tons.

Construction of the solar plant is expected to start in the coming weeks, with the facility scheduled to be fully operational in the first half of 2024. 

The project is supported by more than $4.1 million (CAN 3.6 million) in funding from the Canadian government which this week announced draft clean electricity regulations designed to help the nation achieve a net-zero electricity grid by 2035.

In a statement, the Canadian government said setting new rules for cleaner power will “stimulate investments in renewable energy like wind and solar, smart grid and energy storage systems.”

“Our electricity grid is already one of the cleanest in the world, with more than 84% of electricity generated from non-emitting sources like hydro, nuclear, and wind,” it said. “The draft regulations will ensure we decarbonise the remainder of our grid, while meeting the needs of increasing demand for electricity.”

Canada has announced more than $45 billion in new tax credits and other major federal investments to help drive economic opportunities through the construction of new power sources and retrofitting of existing plants.