The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has committed $25 million to Equans Solar & Storage to trial technologies aimed at reducing the cost of building and operating large-scale solar projects in Australia.
The three-year initiative, known as the Lightspeed project, will test and deploy up to 10 innovations across Equans’ solar and storage pipeline, with a focus on civil works, mechanical works, electrical works, operations and maintenance, and digital coordination.
In a news release, ARENA CEO Darren Miller said innovation would be important as Australia expands its renewable energy infrastructure.
“As Australia builds the renewable energy systems needed to support net zero, innovation will play a critical role in reducing costs and improving productivity across the sector,” Miller said.
The first technology to be trialled will be the Nextpower Ranger, an autonomous inspection robot. According to ARENA, the trial will be the technology’s first deployment at an Australian solar farm and is intended to demonstrate its potential and build market confidence.
The project will also examine technologies including construction robotics, automated piling systems and autonomous inspection solutions, which ARENA said could reduce labour-intensive activities and improve construction efficiency and project delivery.
“By supporting the trial of multiple innovation projects under a single funding portfolio we can test technologies more quickly in real-world environments and at a greater scale,” Miller said.
Equans Solar & Storage Innovation & Development Director Benoit Froidurot said robotics, digital technologies and AI could contribute to the deployment of renewable energy infrastructure.
“Robotics supported by digital and AI will contribute to ensuring the volume of renewable assets needed can be met,” Froidurot said.
He said the Lightspeed project would provide an opportunity to trial emerging technologies for solar construction and operations while increasing the use of automated machines and systems.
ARENA said the initiative builds on a portfolio-style approach being used at Fortescue’s Pilbara Solar Innovation Hub, where multiple solar innovations are being trialled across Fortescue’s Pilbara sites.
The Lightspeed project is intended to generate and share learnings from emerging technologies that could support the design, construction and operation of large-scale solar projects.
