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.
Step changes in power generation technology are required to achieve ambitious climate change goals. We believe that governments should invest the revenues from emissions schemes into developing and deploying low emission technologies, particularly carbon capture and storage (CCS). We are working to accelerate development and deployment of near "zero emissions" power generation and hydrogen production from coal. However, for it to be fully commercialised, CCS needs a sympathetic regulatory framework and community support which recognises its higher costs compared with those of a conventional plant.
We engage with external organisations to advance our energy goals. We have been collaborating with the Rocky Mountain Institute to reduce energy use and explore various alternative energy sources.
Rio Tinto and General Electric are jointly developing two key strategic technology projects, Rio Tinto's "Mine of the Future™" and GE's "Ecomagination", to develop energy efficient and ecologically friendly solutions to support the future of mining.
