Some 71,000 Bifacial Solar Modules Will Be Installed on a 210-Acre Plot
Bechtel has won a contract to lead the design and construction of a 25-megawatt (MW) solar plant at Rio Tinto’s Kennecott copper mine near Salt Lake City in the U.S. state of Utah.
Copperton Phase 2 Solar will be installed on a 210-acre plot next to an existing 5-MW solar plant at Kennecott, one of the world’s largest open-pit copper mines. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025.
The project calls for the installation of 71,000 highly efficient bifacial solar modules, a double-sided panel designed to absorb energy from both its front and rear sides. Together, the two solar plants will reduce Kennecott’s Scope 2 emissions by about 6%, or 21,000 tons of CO2 equivalent per year.
“Additionally, Bechtel will leverage its proprietary and award-winning digital delivery methods to design, construct and commission the facility, incorporating autonomous technologies to optimize project delivery,” the U.S.-based engineering, construction and project management company said in a statement.
Anglo-Australian mining firm Rio Tinto generates around 72% of its power from renewables. The company said it was currently focused on replacing electricity from gas and coal with solar, wind and other clean energy sources as it targets net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
“Expanding our solar farm is the latest step in our journey to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Nate Foster, managing director of Rio Tinto Kennecott.
“Together with other measures we’ve taken, such as closing a coal-fired power plant, deploying battery electric vehicles underground, and our recent transition to renewable diesel, we have reduced our emissions by millions of tons over the past few years. We’re demonstrating every day that sustainable practices and resource production can go hand-in-hand to benefit our company as well as our community.”
Scott Austin, general manager of renewables and clean power at Bechtel, said the project showed “climate commitments in action.”
Bechtel and Rio Tinto are members of the Breakbulk Global Shipper Network. The next in-person meet-up for BGSN members will be at Breakbulk Middle East 2025 on Feb. 10-11 at the Dubai World Trade Center.
PHOTO: A copper smelting plant at Rio Tinto's Kennecott mine in Utah. CREDIT: Rio Tinto.
