Rio Tinto has brought a new 25-megawatt solar facility online at its Kennecott copper mine in Utah, highlighting a closed-loop critical minerals model where materials produced on site are used to generate the mine’s own clean energy. Notably, the tellurium recovered at Kennecott is a key component in the solar panels now supplying power to the operation.
With this latest addition, combined with a 5MW solar installation completed in 2023, Kennecott’s total solar capacity reaches 30MW. This output is sufficient to supply electricity to roughly 1,026 average U.S. households each year and is expected to cut the operation’s Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by around 6%, equivalent to approximately 20,000 tonnes of CO₂e annually. The emissions reduction compares to taking about 4,400 vehicles off the road every year.
Development of the 25MW plant began in October 2024 in collaboration with Bechtel. The project was finalized and commissioned in October of the following year, with full energization achieved in December. The installation comprises more than 71,000 solar panels, each incorporating tellurium sourced directly from Kennecott—an essential mineral for thin-film solar technology.
Kennecott started recovering tellurium in 2022 as a secondary product of copper refining, positioning the site as one of only two tellurium producers in the United States. The material is processed by 5N Plus Inc. in Canada into advanced semiconductor compounds and then supplied mainly to First Solar for photovoltaic module manufacturing. This process keeps the entire tellurium value chain within North America.
According to Nate Foster, Managing Director of Rio Tinto Kennecott, the project represents more than a renewable energy investment. He emphasized that producing and using U.S.-classified critical minerals such as copper and tellurium at the same site demonstrates how domestic resources can underpin clean energy manufacturing. He added that this model enhances supply chain resilience, contributes to energy security, and supports Rio Tinto’s long-term decarbonization goals.
Scott Austin, Bechtel’s General Manager for Renewables and Clean Power, noted that the project was delivered two months ahead of schedule while creating employment for around 200 local workers. He highlighted the strong collaboration with Rio Tinto and expressed optimism for future joint initiatives.
Gervais Jacques, Chief Executive Officer of 5N Plus, stated that the collaboration with Rio Tinto enables the delivery of high-performance materials essential to the energy transition. He added that, amid growing concerns over critical mineral supply security, the partnership reinforces 5N Plus’s role as a reliable supplier to the rapidly expanding clean energy sector.
