Rio Tinto's Diavik Diamond Mine has completed installation of its 3.5 megawatt capacity solar power plant in Canada's Northwest Territories. The project represents the largest off-grid solar power plant across Canada's territories. The 6,620-panel facility is expected to generate 4.2 million kilowatt-hours of solar energy annually, reducing diesel consumption at Diavik by one million litres per year and cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2,900 tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

This is comparable to removing 630 cars from the road each year. The solar power plant will provide up to 25% of Diavik's electricity during closure work, with commercial production at the mine expected to end in 2026 and closure to run until 2029. The facility is equipped with bi-facial panels which not only generate energy from direct sunlight, but also from the light that reflects off the snow that covers Diavik for most of the year.

The solar project complements a wind power plant at Diavik, which has been operating since 2012 and is the largest wind power installation in Canada's North, having generated over 195 million kilowatt-hours. It is the first project in the Northwest Territories to benefit from funding from the Large Emters Grant, which sets aside a portion of carbon tax paid by large operations such as Diavik for projects that commit to GHG reduction projects in the territory. Construction began in February 2024, contracted to Whitehorse-based Solvest Inc. and the Indigenous-owned Tlicho Investment Corporation, with support from Diavik.

Approximately 30% of the construction workforce came from the Tlicho Investment Corporation.