Driving progress with innovative, sustainable energy solutions
To help Rio Tinto reduce its reliance on diesel fuel, Aggreko has implemented a hybrid power system that combines solar energy and battery storage with an existing diesel power station. The power plant, operated under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), reduces the mine’s carbon footprint and operating costs.
- The Challenge
Reduce reliance on diesel at a remote mine
- The Solution
Hybrid power plant combining solar farm with BESS and diesel
- The Impact
An effective solution for sustainable mining in remote region
Client:Rio Tinto
Location:Cape York Peninsula, Queensland
Sectors:Mining
The Challenge
Reduce reliance on diesel at a remote mine
As part of its decarbonisation strategy, Rio Tinto sought to reduce its reliance on diesel at its Amrun bauxite mine, located on the Cape York Peninsula. The company approved the development of a 12.4 MW solar farm and an 8.8 MW / 2.1 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to enhance sustainability at the mine.
Aggreko was contracted under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to build, own, and operate the hybrid power system, which would complement the existing diesel power system. This project aims to reduce diesel consumption by 37%, saving approximately 5.5 million litres of diesel annually, while cutting CO2 emissions by 14,000 tonnes per year – equivalent to removing 3,100 cars from the road.
The Solution
Hybrid power plant combining solar farm with BESS and diesel
Aggreko currently operates a 27.5 MW diesel power station at the Amrun site, commissioned in 2018 and powered by 22 x KTA50 G12 (1250 kVA) generators. This station serves as the mine’s primary energy source under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). To improve sustainability, Aggreko is enhancing this system by integrating a 12.4 MW solar farm and 8 MW / 2.1 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), with full completion expected by Q3 2025.
Once operational, the hybrid system will produce around 21 GWh of renewable energy annually, significantly reducing the mine’s dependence on diesel fuel. Aggreko’s advanced software platform will manage the integration of solar and thermal power, optimising energy flow between the two sources for maximum efficiency and reliability.
This hybrid solution will lower operational costs, improve sustainability, and provide a more balanced, reliable, and eco-friendly energy mix to meet the mine’s energy demands.
The Impact
An effective solution for sustainable mining in remote region
The hybrid system will reduce the mine’s carbon footprint and operating costs, aligning with Rio Tinto’s sustainability goals. This initiative is part of a broader effort at Weipa Operations, where three solar installations will deliver 18 MW of renewable energy capacity, benefiting both the mine and the local township. By combining renewable energy with reliable thermal generation, this project showcases an effective solution for sustainable mining in remote regions.