Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Purpose & Values
The drive for innovation and continuous improvement is at the heart of our purpose
Business Strategy
Climate change is at the heart of our business strategy
Innovation
Finding better ways to do things is in our DNA
We supply the metals and minerals used to help the world grow and decarbonise
Iron Ore
The primary raw material used to make steel, which is strong, long-lasting and cost-efficient
Lithium
The lightest of all metals, it is a key element needed for low-carbon technologies
Copper
Tough but malleable, corrosion-resistant and recyclable, and an excellent conductor of heat and transmitter of electricity
Bringing to market materials critical to urbanisation and the transition to a low-carbon economy
Oyu Tolgoi
One of the most modern, safe and sustainable operations in the world
Rincon Project
A long-life, low-cost and low-carbon lithium source
Simandou Project
The world’s largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposit
Providing materials the world needs in a responsible way
Climate Change
We’re targeting net zero emissions by 2050
Tailings
Details of our tailings facilities can be found on our interactive tailings disclosure map
Nature solutions
Our nature-based solutions projects complement the work we're doing to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions
We aim to deliver superior returns to our shareholders while safeguarding the environment and meeting our obligations to wider society
North America site visit, 24 September 2024
An investor site visit to our Aluminium operations in the Saguenay and our Iron & Titanium business in Sorel, Quebec, Canada
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Our podcast discussing what needs to happen to create a sustainable future for the everyday items we have come to rely on
The 'f' word of innovation
How unlocking innovation requires a change of mindset
Reducing titanium oxide's carbon footprint
Our BlueSmelting technology could drastically reduce carbon emissions during ore processing
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One of the challenges of decarbonising the way materials like iron ore and aluminium are produced is finding ways to store renewable energy to keep our operations running.
We are deploying a range of wind and solar projects over the next 10 years. However, both forms of renewable energy generate intermittent power that needs to be firmed – or supplemented – with power from another source when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.
We operate in more than 35 countries, so we need different firming solutions to give us flexibility and certainty of power and to cater for all weather and seasons. They must also be able to store enough energy to power huge operations and be affordable. It’s no small ask.
To overcome this challenge and support the decarbonisation of our operations, we are looking at a range of long-term storage, including mechanical, electrochemical, chemical and thermal solutions.
Mechanical storage such as pumped storage hydropower, and liquid or compressed-air energy storage, can provide firm power to high-power processing facilities and large mine sites that require vast amounts of energy to be stored. It is currently prohibitively expensive, but we are working with start-ups on this challenge right now. Until we find a cost-effective solution, firming will have to come from conventional power sources such as hydro or gas turbines. Alternatively, we will need to modulate demand, where we adapt our energy consumption to match renewable production. We are developing this capability in our aluminium smelters.
While lithium-ion battery electrochemical storage is cheaper than mechanical storage, it is still too expensive and it also doesn’t deliver enough storage capacity for our sites.
The good news is that certain thermal storage technologies, such as thermal mass storage, can provide secure, low-cost power to our energy intense alumina refineries and other hydrometallurgical plants that require steam, and we are actively pursuing these technologies.
Beyond 2035, we expect new battery systems will become more cost effective, including vanadium flow batteries and other lower-cost chemistry technologies currently being developed.
We are also monitoring other energy sources, like geothermal, which has been around for decades but is seeing renewed interest, as well as small modular nuclear reactors and nuclear fusion. These technologies would be transformational, but we believe they are at least 20 years away, and fusion beyond 2045.
Technology will bring changes we cannot yet imagine. So in our R&D efforts we are remaining open-minded and looking at a range of solutions to help us tackle decarbonisation challenges like long-term storage.
We are progressing work towards 1GW of renewable power in the Pilbara, with Phase 1 planned to deliver 234MW solar and 200MWh storage from 2023–2026. In addition to this, we have built a 34MW solar plant at our Gudai-Darri iron ore mine.
Our renewable energy project in Madagascar consists of an 8MW solar energy facility comprising 14,000 solar panels (phase 1), and a 12MW wind energy facility, comprising up to 19 wind turbines (phase 2).
We have a Request For Proposal in progress to secure 4GW of renewable power to provide a competitive future for our Queensland aluminium assets.
We’ve signed a 130MW solar power purchase agreement for Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) in South Africa, with a further 200MW of wind in progress. We have partnerships in progress to have RBM 100% powered by renewables by 2040.
Find out more about our decarbonisation activities in our Climate Change Report.
Pumped storage hydropower: Potential energy is stored by pumping water to an uphill reservoir. Energy is then recovered through a hydropower turbine when the water is released downwards. (Source: US Department of Energy)
Compressed-air energy storage: This works in a similar way to pumped storage hydropower. Air or another gas is compressed and stored under pressure. When electricity is required, the pressurised air is heated and expanded in a turbine that drives a power generator. (Source: American Clean Power Association)
Liquid air storage: Liquid air energy storage uses electricity to cool air until it liquefies. The liquid air is stored in a tank and is then brought back to a gaseous state by exposure to ambient air or with waste heat from an industrial process. That gas is then used to turn a turbine and generate electricity. (Source: American Clean Power Association)
Concentrated solar thermal: These systems use mirrors (also called heliostats) to concentrate sunlight into a targeted location, producing high temperatures. This heat is captured using a fluid, such as oil or molten salt, which can then be used to heat water to create steam to power a turbine and produce electricity. The heat can also be used directly to decarbonise some industrial processes. (Source: Australian Renewable Energy Agency)
Molten salt and thermal mass: These systems use materials like molten salt, concrete or bricks to absorb to store heat energy so it can be used at another time.
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With the exception of the use of cookies, Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
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As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of our Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
With the exception of the use of cookies (explained below), Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
Part 1 of this Privacy Policy contains the Rio Tinto Data Privacy Standard, which provides an overview of Rio Tinto’s approach to personal data processing. There is additional information in the appendices to the Data Privacy Standard, including information about disclosures, trans-border data transfers, the exercise of data subject rights and how to make complaints or obtain further information relating to Rio Tinto’s processing of your personal data.
If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us at digital.comms@riotinto.com).
With your consent, our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site.
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As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of this Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
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