First Solar and Ingenero to collaborate on PV projects

First Solar and Ingenero have announced a collaboration arrangement to provide a joint offering to the commercial and off-grid solar markets. The partnership will combine Ingenero’s design, development and integration experience with First Solar’s thin-film photovoltaic (PV) module technology and track record in utility-scale projects to better meet market requirements within Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Ingenero has previously constructed Australia’s largest rooftop solar PV system at the University of Queensland and a number of ground-mounted solar PV systems in Queensland, the Northern Territory and the Pacific Islands. Meanwhile, First Solar brings international experience in constructing utility-scale solar projects, including Australia’s first utility-scale solar farm, the Greenough River Solar Farm, and has established a strong local supply chain in Australia.

The collaboration will combine the companies’ capabilities to increase the number of ground-mounted solar projects in Australia. They will also jointly target diesel fuel replacement opportunities in Australia’s off-grid sector, reducing operating costs for mining companies and providing an alternative source of power generation for communities throughout regional Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Ingenero CEO Steve McRae said, “A collaboration agreement with First Solar and the opportunity to utilise its thin-film PV module technology brings with it the increased capability and flexibility needed to be successful in a growing market.” He said off-grid, commercial and utility-scale applications “hold significant growth opportunities internationally” and that, by partnering with a company like First Solar, “Ingenero will continue to grow its commercial and utility solar business within Australia and broaden its international footprint.”

First Solar’s Asia Pacific Vice President of Business Development and Sales, Jack Curtis, said the collaboration will better position the company to “meet the needs of the commercial and off-grid solar markets in Australia and Asia-Pacific”. While the company’s primary focus has been utility-scale projects, the collaboration will “provide us with additional origination and execution diversity in medium-scale projects that will allow us to broaden our accessible demand pool across the region.”

It is said that the collaboration will deliver high-quality service and components as well as innovative, fully engineered solutions tailor-designed for each project.

Source