Rio Tinto taps Bechtel for Copperton Phase 2 Solar project to cut emissions

Rio Tinto has selected Bechtel to design and construct the Copperton Phase 2 Solar project, a major renewable energy facility to support operations at its Kennecott copper mine in Utah.

Set to be completed by late 2025, the facility will span 85 hectares and produce 25 MW of energy using 71,000 high-performance bifacial solar panels capable of absorbing sunlight from both sides. Bechtel will deploy its proprietary digital tools and autonomous technologies to optimize design, construction, and commissioning processes. The project is expected to create 100 local construction jobs.

Located adjacent to Kennecott’s existing 5 MW solar plant, the new facility will reduce the mine's Scope 2 emissions by approximately six percent, equivalent to 21,000 metric tons of CO₂ annually — comparable to the emissions from 5,000 gasoline-powered vehicles.

Source: ENERGInyheter