Solar tracker giant sets up manufacturing facility in Australia to supply local projects

One of the world’s top solar tracker providers, Nasdaq-listed Array Technologies, will set up manufacturing facilities on Australian soil, as part of a deal to supply a new Victorian solar farm.

The Albuquerque-based company, which sits alongside Nextracker and PV Hardware as a giant of the global solar tracking market, was tapped to supply locally made trackers to Pacific Partnerships’ 130MW Glenrowan solar farm.

The Glenrowan solar farm, under construction in Victoria’s north, is one of six winners in Victoria’s second renewable energy auction (VRET2), fast-tracking 623MW of new generation capacity and 365MW/600MWh of new energy storage for the state.

Array Technologies says that it is the first global tracker company to be awarded a contract under the VRET scheme, which sets strict local content requirements in a bid to drive the growth of renewable energy jobs and manufacturing in the state.

The company says its local manufacturing plant – the location of which has not yet been disclosed – will initially support Glenrowan, but then extend to other new solar projects in Australia and in the region.

“We recognise the need to transition to a clean energy future and producing locally sourced components is an important step in that transition,” said Array Technologies CEO Kevin Hostetler, in a statement.

“Along with the environmental benefits, this decision will help us meet the growing demand for renewable energy utilities, expedite project schedules, and have long-lasting economic benefits for Australia.”

These days, solar tracking technology is standard for the vast majority of solar farms as an essential addition to boost the levelled cost of energy, or LCOE – with the exception of around 10 per cent of projects that need to be fixed, due to weather conditions or other mitigating factors.

In Australia, Nextracker is the biggest player, followed by Array Technologies, but the establishment of local manufacturing should deliver a boost to its share of the market – as well as a boost to Victoria’s new energy economy.

“We are proud to be the first company to provide a locally made tracker and support Australia’s domestic manufacturing base for future renewable energy projects,” Hostetler said.

Pacific Partnerships, a subsidiary of construction and engineering giant Cimic Group, bought the Glenrowan solar farm from Developer Esco Pacific in 2022, which will retain a long-term asset management contract for the project.

Another Cimic subsidiary, UGL, started early construction works on the project in June of 2022 and expects to complete the solar farm by the end of 2023.