Cape York Weekly FREE – #052 | Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Editor: Matt Nicholls 0477 450 558 | editor@capeyorkweekly.com.au
The existing Weipa solar farm, located at the back of Nanum, is expected to triple in size to help reduce Rio Tinto’s reliance on diesel for power generation at both the mine and Weipa township.
Solar investment to reduce reliance on diesel
Future looks bright By MATT NICHOLLS
WEIPA’S solar farm will triple in size as Rio Tinto looks to reduce its reliance on diesel power generation in Cape York. The mining giant has approved a new solar farm and battery storage in a move that will more than triple the local electricity network’s solar
generation capacity and help provide cleaner power to Rio Tinto’s operations. Energy company EDL has been contracted to build, own and operate a 4MW solar plant and 4MW/4MWh of battery storage at Weipa. Work on the battery facilities will start this year, with construc-
tion of the whole project expected to be complete by late 2022. The new solar farm and battery storage will complement the existing 1.6MW solar farm at Weipa, which was completed in 2015 and is also owned and operated by EDL. The 4MWh battery system will be built next to the existing Weipa
power station and will help provide a stable power network for Rio Tinto’s Weipa operations and the Weipa township. “The new solar farm and battery storage at Weipa will help us lower our carbon footprint and diesel use in a reliable way,” Rio Tinto Weipa boss Michelle Elvy said. “The original Weipa solar farm
was the largest solar facility at an off-grid Australian mine site at the time it was built, and it played an important role in showing the viability of renewable energy systems in remote locations.” Rio Tinto also supply the power for Napranum and the local council has looked at alternative options. Continued – Page 2
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