The copper operation on the Kennecott mine in Utah is now supported by a brand new 25-MW photo voltaic mission. Rio Tinto additionally put in a 5-MW photo voltaic mission on the web site in 2023.
A copper telluride filter cake – the completed product– on the Kennecott Tellurium Plant. Credit score: Rio Tinto
Building on the 25-MW plant started in October 2024 in partnership with Bechtel, and the mission was energized in December 2025. The brand new photo voltaic array consists of over 71,000 panels containing tellurium, a critical mineral for solar technology, produced at Kennecott.
Kennecott started producing tellurium in 2022 as a byproduct of copper refining, making it considered one of solely two U.S. producers of this essential mineral. Tellurium from Kennecott is transformed into thin-film semiconductor supplies by 5N Plus in Canada after which provided primarily to First Photo voltaic for the manufacturing of the photovoltaic panels now put in at Kennecott, retaining your entire tellurium provide chain in North America.
“This new photo voltaic plant is greater than a supply of renewable energy for our operations; it’s an illustration of circularity and provide chain resilience,” stated Nate Foster, Managing Director of Rio Tinto Kennecott. “By mining copper and tellurium, each categorised as essential minerals in the US, right here at Kennecott and utilizing that tellurium within the panels powering our web site, we’re proving how home essential minerals help renewable power manufacturing. This method strengthens North America’s provide chain for important assets, helps nationwide power safety, and reinforces our dedication to a low-carbon future.”
Read SPW’s story on telluride that features the Kennecott mining operations.
