Ensuring a sustainable power future for the region post-mining
Rio Tinto’s Gove site is transitioning to sustainable power with a hybrid system combining 26 MW diesel and 10.5 MW solar farms, developed with Aggreko and the input from the local Traditional Owner Groups to support a post-mining energy future of the region. This project will significantly reduce diesel use and carbon emissions while fostering community engagement and education.
- The Challenge
Develop sustainable future for the Gove Peninsula
- The Solution
Enhancing sustainability of the remote power system
- The Impact
Advancing sustainability and community engagement
Client:Rio Tinto
Location:Gove Peninsula, Northern territory
Sectors:Mining
The Challenge
Develop sustainable future for the Gove Peninsula
For over 40 years, Rio Tinto’s Gove site in the Northern Territory has been a key supplier of high-quality bauxite for the global aluminium industry. As mining activities at Gove wind down, Rio Tinto, in partnership with Aggreko, is focused on ensuring a sustainable energy future for the Gove Peninsula. The transition involves the construction of two 5.25 MW solar farms on Gumatj and Rirratjingu country, in collaboration with local Traditional Owner Groups.
Operating on Indigenous land introduces a layer of complexity that requires respectful engagement, cultural sensitivity, and genuine collaboration with local communities to meet both environmental and social expectations.
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The Solution
Enhancing sustainability of the remote power system
Aggreko has been operating a 26 MW diesel-powered remote power system since 2014, supplying energy to both the Gove bauxite mine and the town of Nhulunbuy under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
This system comprises 26 x 1 MW Cummins KTA50G12 diesel generators, providing reliable power for over a decade. To enhance sustainability, Aggreko is integrating two 5.25 MW solar farms into the existing diesel system. The hybrid power system significantly reduces the mine and town’s dependence on diesel.
The hybrid system now includes 26 MW of diesel power generation and 10.5 MW of solar power, using Canadian Solar panels, Sungrow inverters, and Nextracker tracking systems.