Rio Tinto expands solar capacity at Kennecott with tellurium-linked panels

Rio Tinto, Solar

Rio Tinto expands solar capacity at Kennecott by adding 25MW of new generation at its Utah copper site. Rio Tinto expands solar capacity at Kennecott on top of a 5MW solar plant completed in 2023. As a result, Rio Tinto expands solar capacity at Kennecott to a total of 30MW, targeting a 6% cut in Scope 2 emissions.

The new solar build started in late 2024 and reached completion in October before it energized in December. Meanwhile, the project ties decarbonization to local byproduct value. The solar plant uses about 71,000 panels that incorporate tellurium produced at Kennecott during copper refining.

How the Kennecott solar project reduces Scope 2 emissions and power risk

The Kennecott solar expansion targets electricity-related emissions that sit in Scope 2 accounting. Therefore, a 30MW on-site solar asset can shave grid exposure and improve emissions intensity. However, solar output varies by season and time of day, so Kennecott still needs grid power or firming solutions for round-the-clock operations.

The construction timeline also shows industrial renewables moving from pilot scale to repeatable deployments. Meanwhile, miners increasingly prioritize projects that deliver measurable emissions cuts without disrupting throughput. This approach supports customer demands for lower-carbon copper supply chains.

Why tellurium matters for photovoltaics and byproduct monetization

Tellurium turns a refining byproduct into a strategic input for thin-film solar technology. As a result, Kennecott links copper refining to downstream clean-energy manufacturing. The material flows from Kennecott to Canadian firm 5N Plus for thin-film semiconductor materials and then to US firm First Solar for panel manufacturing.

This loop strengthens a North American critical materials chain around solar components. However, byproduct markets remain small and price sensitive, so long-term offtake and qualification matter. Therefore, integrating tellurium into a captive use case at the mine site can improve resilience and visibility for both producers and buyers.

The Metalnomist Commentary

This project signals a smarter decarbonization play that also upgrades byproduct strategy. However, the real advantage comes if Rio Tinto pairs renewables with reliability tools like storage and demand management. Mines that connect emissions cuts to critical-material loops will win premium customers.