The mining group Rio Tinto is seeking proposals, through a formal market request for proposals (RFP), to develop at least 4 GW of wind and solar projects in Central and Southern Queensland (Australia). The power plants will supply the Boyne aluminium smelter and two alumina refineries, namely Yarwun and Queensland, in the Gladstone region. Rio Tinto intends to start supplying power to these assets through the Queensland grid by 2030. They require 1,140MW of reliable power to operate, which equates to at least 4,000 MW of wind or solar power with firming.
As part of its target to reduce its Scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, the company is expected to spend AUD7.5bn (US$5.4bn) over the 2022-2030 period in capital expenditure to lower its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In October 2021, the group unveiled a plan to deploy 6 GW of wind and solar capacity in Australia to decarbonise iron ore and smelting operations. Projects include 1 GW of wind and solar capacity at Pilbara, and 5 GW at Boyne Island and Tomago smelters. Solar accounts for 23% of Australia's installed capacity, with 19.1 GW, and wind for 11%, with 9 GW.