Barrick Solar Farm

As a mining industry leader committed to sustainability, Barrick Gold has been incorporating various sustainability initiatives into their mining operations worldwide. Given the long-standing relationship between Barrick and Ledcor and alignment of core values of sustainability, Ledcor’s participation was a great fit for this solar project east of Reno, Nevada. 

The Barrick Solar Farm began commercial operations in 2008. Ledcor’s scope included the foundation excavations, cable installation, and solar panel mounting. The 1.0 megawatt solar photovoltaic system was designed to be incorporated into the existing 115 megawatt gas-fired Western 102 power plant. The eight acre installation provides power to the plant’s internal power loads, namely the generator oil recirculation and heating pumps, and the auxiliary plant services such as heating, ventilation systems, and lighting.

By effectively managing energy use, Barrick is able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, achieve more efficient production, reduce their draw from local energy grids, and save a significant portion of their direct costs.

Project Highlights:

• Foundation excavations

• Cable installation

• Solar panel mounting