 Rio Tinto PLC LSE:RIO outlined plans for new solar projects, while saying it will invest US7.5bn in the decarbonisation of its mining projects by 2030 and up to US3bn each year in metals to help the energy transition, where a 25 increase in demand is expected through to 2035. Providing a progress update on its strategy to decarbonise and grow, the Anglo-Australian mining giant separately announced a US600mln planned investment in solar power and battery storage in the Pilbara as part of the US1.5bn it intends to invest in the next three years to cutemissions Funding has been signed off for two 100MW solar power facilities as well as 200MWh of on-grid battery storage in the Pilbara that are scheduled to start construction next year and be commissioned by 2026 with the aim of abating around 300,000 tonnes of CO2. 