The solar power plant will provide up to 25% of Diavik’s electricity during closure work, with commercial production at the mine expected to end in 2026 and closure to run until 2029. The facility is equipped with bi-facial panels which generate energy from direct sunlight, and also from the light that reflects off the snow that covers Diavik for most of the year.
The solar project complements a wind power plant at Diavik, which has been operating since 2012 and is the largest wind power installation in Canada’s North, having generated over 195 million kilowatt-hours of electricity since activation, Rio said.
“The largest off-grid solar power plant in Canada’s North is our latest commitment to the environment we live and work in, and will improve the energy efficiency of our operations at Diavik,” Diavik chief operating officer Matthew Breen said in the statement.
The project was supported by C$3.3 million in funding…
