ARENA to help SunSHIFT showcase movable PV tech

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is supporting a 1-MW pre-commercial installation of the SunSHIFT moveable and modular solar technology.

The agency said Thursday it is providing AUD 2.1 million (USD 1.6m/EUR 1.5m) of recoupable funding to allow SunSHIFT to showcase its 1-MW Block photovoltaic (PV) product. The technology has been developed by global engineering and construction company Laing O'Rourke through a newly formed subsidiary, SunSHIFT, in partnership with ABB (VTX:ABBN) and SunPower Corp (NASDAQ:SPWR). It has been backed by ARENA from inception to manufacturing and pilot-scale demonstration.

The product is aimed at providing an alternative to diesel generators for off-grid users such as mines, construction sites and remote communities. Its key characteristics include fast set up and pack down, as well as flexible sizing. ARENA chief executive Ivor Frischknecht explained it would make sense for projects that last several years, like construction and mining operations.

The 1-MW system will be located in Rutherford, New South Wales.

"Off the back of this demonstration, we will be ramping up manufacturing to meet the strong demand for our product from mining companies, independent power providers, and infrastructure investors active in emerging markets and developing economies," said general manager Will Rayward-Smith.

Laing O'Rourke Australia managing director, Cathal O'Rourke, commented: "What started out as an idea to reduce diesel fuel consumption for power generation at our own remote construction sites has evolved into an entirely new type of power generation asset ready for uptake in the multi-billion dollar global temporary power market."

(AUD 1.0 = USD 0.751/EUR 0.699)

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