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https://reneweconomy.com.au/arena-backs-rollout-of-automated-pile-driver-tech-by-us-solar-tracking-giant/>
"A major US company has landed a federal grant to introduce its automated
pile-driver to Australian solar project contractors, following in the footsteps
of a number of robotics trials this year in the sector.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is funding US solar tracking
manufacturer Nextracker with $4.96 million to roll out a new system at several
solar projects, including Lightsource bp’s 450 megawatt (MW) Goulburn River
solar project in New South Wales (NSW).
Unlike ARENA’s previous grants in this space, which went to robot pile drivers
and solar panel installers, Nextracker’s is a GPS-guided drill rig that
automates the location of where the triangular foundations for the tracking
structure above will be screwed in.
The company says it can reduce by 20 per cent the amount of time to install
foundations and trackers, because it can do the job in a single pass rather
than taking multiple steps, and reduced the amount of rework needed to
straighten or otherwise correct where the peg has gone in.
Nextracker Australia’s Peter Wheale says the company has already sold 10
gigawatts (GW) of solar tracking tech in Australia, but the foundation drilling
technology is new, having only been used in the US to date.
He called the foundation technology a “a breakthrough” for Australian solar
because the screw system can be used on steeper, rocky sites that have
previously defeated developers as too complicated or expensive to develop.
“Simplifying and optimising the most labour-intensive phase of solar
construction for any soil or terrain condition is a real breakthrough,” Wheale
said in a statement.
“By unlocking new categories of land, we’re giving developers and EPCs greater
flexibility and reduced project risk while helping Australia accelerate its
clean energy transition.”"
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*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
