GRS strengthens its position in Australia and becomes the leading EPC company in the solar sector after signing two new projects for Lightsource bp, a world leader in the development and management of solar energy projects. GRS, along with other Gransolar’s companies (ISE and PV Hardware), will be responsible for the design, construction, commissioning and subsequent operation and maintenance (O&M) tasks of Wunghnu, with an installed capacity of 90 MW, and the Wellington North plant, which will be one of the largest photovoltaic projects built in Australia with an installed capacity of 425 MW.
With these two projects, GRS and Lightsource bp will work together for the first time to contribute to the development of renewable energy projects in Australia and lay the groundwork for a long-term business relationship that they hope will lead to other major projects.
Leader solar EPC company
The start of construction at Wellington North and Wunghnu, which are expected to be completed in approximately two years, marks a milestone for both companies as they emerge as industry leaders in a country committed to the promotion of green energy.
GRS has become the leading company in photovoltaic EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) projects, with a pipeline of more than 1.5 GWdc in a total of 12 projects, ten of them exceeding 20 MW of installed capacity, according to a report published by the consulting firm Rystad Energy. Lightsource bp is the largest owner of photovoltaic assets in Australia, with a total of 841 MW.
GRS faces the challenge of building its largest solar plant in Wellington North Solar Farm, located near the town of Dubbo, in the state of New South Wales. Its 755,552 photovoltaic modules, spread over an area of 847 hectares, will produce clean energy equivalent to the consumption of more than 152,500 households.
The Wunghnu project will be located in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley and will consist of 160,048 modules on 222 hectares, enough to power 27,152 homes. Both plants will represent Gransolar Group’s working philosophy as an integrated solar platform, as ISE will be responsible for the design and engineering and PVH will install its state-of-the-art solar trackers.
“Proven track record of successfully building”
“We are pleased to be partnering with Gransolar as we grow our solar generation portfolio in Australia, progressing our plans to provide reliable, sustainable and affordable energy for our customers and communities. Gransolar was selected by Lightsource bp as it has a proven track record of successfully building and operating large utility-scale projects in Australia and around the world,” explains Adam Pegg, Managing Director, Lightsource bp Australia and New Zealand.
Carlos López, Managing Director in Australia of Gransolar Group, confirms that Australia has been and will continue being a strategic market for the company. «We have everything in our favour to feel very comfortable planning and building utility-scale PV plants here: positive public policies, climatic conditions and, above all, excellent partners such as Lighsource bp who help us to grow every day,» he states.
