MINE POWER
Aggreko will build two new 5.25 MW solar farms on Gumatj and Rirratjingu country on the Gove Peninsula in the Northern Territory of Australia to allow Rio Tinto to secure a more sustainable power supply for the region beyond mining
lower annual carbon emissions by over 12,000 t .
George Whyte , Managing Director of Aggreko Asia Pacific , said his team has delivered many similar applications to the one at Gove and their focus now is working safely and respectfully with the local custodians of the land .
This news came hot on the heels of Rio Tinto ’ s Diavik diamond mine announcing the completed installation of its 3.5 MW capacity solar power plant in Canada ’ s Northwest Territories .
The project represents the largest off-grid solar power plant across Canada ’ s territories , with the 6,620-panel facility expected to generate 4.2 million kWh / y of solar energy , reducing diesel consumption at Diavik by 1 million litres per year and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2,900 t of CO 2 equivalent .
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 not only generate energy from direct sunlight , but 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 kWh of electricity since activation .
Construction began in February 2024 , contracted to Whitehorse-based Solvest Inc and the Indigenous-owned Tłıchǫ Investment Corporation , with support from Diavik . site , in collaboration with Tugliq Energie , a Montreal-based provider of sustainable energy solutions for remote locations .
The new system consists of 500 solar panels capable of generating up to 222.5 kWp , a wind turbine capable of generating up to 15 kWp , and a fully integrated and containerised control room . The electricity generated from solar and wind will supplement the existing connection to the renewable energy delivered to the Troilus site through the Hydro-Quebec grid and provide a backup source of energy in instances when the connection to the grid is compromised , Troilus says .
Justin Reid , CEO and Director of Troilus Gold , said : “ Troilus already benefits from a 50 MW substation connected to the Hydro-Quebec grid which supplies sustainable , renewable energy through 107 km of 161 kVA dedicated transmission lines . However , as we prepare for the potential restart of the Troilus mine and our anticipated electricity demands , it is our intention to explore and develop a mix of sustainable energy solutions to supplement hydroelectric power .
“ In collaboration with Tugliq , this new installation not only provides us with an on-site
source of supplementary and back-up electricity but will provide important data to help us develop a reliable , sustainable and cost-efficient mix of energy as we work towards developing a carbon-neutral future at Troilus .”
Tugliq delivered the plug-and-play system to Troilus in 2024 in three containers , with the modular design suitable for harsh climates and allowing for quick deployment and scalability to meet future energy needs .
Additionally , Troilus and Tugliq have installed wind monitoring devices at the Troilus site to collect data on frequency and intensity of wind over a 12-month period . This data will help Troilus identify suitable locations for potential wind farm development .
Initial surveys suggest that locations around the Troilus mine site could be capable of harnessing enough wind power to not only significantly contribute to Troilus ’ future energy needs , but also become a supplier to the Hydro- Quebec grid .
Daniel Bergeron , VP Special Projects , added : “ Troilus previously relied on diesel generators as the primary backup power source . Last year ’ s forest fires that damaged transmission lines throughout the region highlighted the need for localised alternative energy sources , as our reliance on diesel doubled our Scope 1 GHG emissions in 2023 and increased our energy costs by 33 % during the period when the lines were down .
“ This new solar and wind system are components of a larger plan to address both the sustainability and security aspects of energy supply and will position Troilus to maximise operational efficiency by reducing our overall dependency on Hydro-Quebec ’ s grid in a costeffective manner while minimising our carbon footprint .”
A carbon-neutral future
It is a combination of wind and solar that is set to help Troilus Gold Corp safeguard its mine energy inputs .
The Quebec-focused gold developer recently announced the installation of an alternative solar and wind energy generation system at the Troilus
Tugliq delivered a plug-and-play solar system to Troilus Gold ’ s site in Quebec in 2024 , with the modular design suitable for harsh climates and allowing for quick deployment and scalability to meet future energy needs
42 International Mining | JANUARY 2025