NRW will organise design, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of all equipment including a 33KV substation which will be integrated into the overall Rio Tinto Iron Ore infrastructure.

The solar farm will be connected to the Rio Tinto grid at the Gudai Darri Central Substation via a 6 km long overhead powerline. Construction of the plant will start in August, with completion scheduled for early 2022.

The plant will consist of approximately 100,000 solar panels. It will supply all of Gudai-Darri's electricity demand during peak solar power generation times, and approximately 65% of the mine's average electricity demand.

The solar plant is estimated to reduce our annual carbon dioxide emissions by about 90,000 tonnes, or the equivalent of taking about 28,000 cars off the road.

"Securing this work recognises the broader delivery capability of the business and NRW's long standing experience of delivering projects for Rio Tinto in the Pilbara," said Jules Pemberton, NRW's Chief Executive Officer. "Renewable Energy represents an increasing opportunity for the group in particular captive projects like this where the energy output is integrated to the client's network".

Rio Tinto approved the A$98m project last year as part of plans to achieve a 30% reduction in emissions intensity by 2030 from 2018 levels, and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Gudai Darri ramp-up set to start in early 2022 will create the company's first new major mining hub in nearly a decade. The company aims to achieve 90mt of replacement mine capacity, with a first phase of 43Mt.

The project will incorporate a processing plant, associated infrastructure and a 166-kilometre rail line. 

The mine's autonomous fleet will include the world's first autonomous water carts, to be launched in 2021.