Rio Tinto and Edify Power have signed two new photo voltaic and battery hybrid providers agreements (HSAs) to extend the provision of dependable, competitively priced electrical energy to Rio Tinto’s Gladstone aluminium operations in Queensland, Australia.
Beneath the agreements, Rio Tinto will buy 90% of the ability and battery storage capability generated by the Smoky Creek & Guthrie’s Hole Photo voltaic Energy Stations for 20 years. Edify Power will construct, personal, and function the tasks, with building attributable to start in late 2025 and focusing on completion in 2028.
Positioned in central Queensland, the adjoining Smoky Creek & Guthrie’s Hole Photo voltaic Energy Stations, will collectively characteristic 600 MWac1 of photo voltaic and 600 MW/2,400 MWh of battery storage.
Rio Tinto Chief Govt, Australia, Kellie Parker, stated: “These agreements are integral to repowering our Gladstone aluminium operations with inexpensive, dependable and decrease carbon vitality for many years to come back. For the primary time, we have now built-in essential battery storage in our efforts to make the Boyne aluminium smelter globally cost-competitive, as conventional vitality sources develop into costlier.
“We proceed to research additional renewable vitality investments to repower our Gladstone aluminium operations.”
Edify Power Chief Govt, John Cole, acknowledged the significance of this new providers settlement in offering clear, dependable and cost-effective electrical energy to vitality customers.
“The Smoky Creek & Guthrie’s Hole Photo voltaic Energy Stations ship the newest in photo voltaic, battery and inverter expertise to assist Australia’s energy wants,” he stated. “This collaboration is a vital dedication to supporting the sustainable way forward for Australia’s industrial sector. We’re proud to advance Rio Tinto’s targets to repower its Gladstone operations and to play a task within the transition to a low-carbon economic system.”
When mixed with the two.2 GW of renewable wind and photo voltaic PPAs Rio Tinto introduced for its Gladstone operations in 2024, the Smoky Creek & Guthrie’s Hole agreements assist safe a complete of two.7 GW2 of future wind and photo voltaic vitality in Queensland.
Collectively, the 4 contracted tasks are anticipated to produce 80% of Boyne smelter’s annual common electrical energy demand, decreasing the smelter’s scope 1 and a pair of emissions by 70%, or 5.6 Mt of carbon dioxide equal per yr, Rio Tinto says. That is the equal of eradicating about 2 million inside combustion engine vehicles from the highway.
Rio Tinto’s 90% share of the Smoky Creek & Guthrie’s Hole battery system capability quantities to 2,160 MWh, which is able to present about 30% of the firming required to repower the Boyne smelter with renewable vitality. It can retailer inexperienced vitality for dependable use throughout peak demand intervals or low photo voltaic output, which is able to enhance stability and resilience of Queensland’s energy community.
Rio Tinto’s three manufacturing property within the Gladstone area are the Boyne aluminium smelter, the Yarwun alumina refinery and the Queensland alumina refinery.
