Energy
We consume energy in our operations and we also produce it. Our smelting and mineral processing operations are energy intensive and depend heavily on electricity, coal, oil, diesel and gas to keep them running. The majority of our electricity use is from greenhouse friendly hydro and nuclear power. Much of this is from our own hydropower generating facilities, which have a combined generating capacity of more than 3,900MW. At the same time, Rio Tinto is one of the world's leading producers of coal and of uranium for the electricity industry.
We believe the energy challenge can best be met by companies, governments and society working together. Global energy demand growth will require use of all available energy sources: fossil fuels, nuclear and renewable energy sources and increased energy efficiency. The goal in each case should be to continually improve the cost-security-cleanliness equation, by fully recognising and addressing the risks involved and benefits achievable. Technology development will be at the heart of improved energy solutions.
- Approach
- Technology
- Results
We strive to improve the energy efficiency of all our operations. We have set a range of local energy targets that cover nearly three quarters of the Group's energy use. Some of the energy saving opportunities we have identified are actionable immediately. Others require significant capital expenditure and have long design and construction lead times.
We are also working to reduce the energy intensity of our new projects through energy efficiency asset design, the use of alternate sources of energy and the development of step change technologies for several of our products. This includes the development of Rio Tinto proprietary AP-Xe smelting technology which has the potential to significantly reduce the energy required to produce aluminium.
