Nextracker (Nasdaq:
NXT), a global market leader of solar tracker and software solutions, and Orrcon Steel, a leading Australian
manufacturer of tube and pipe, and distributor of steel products and wholly
owned business of BlueScope Steel (ASX:BSL), announced an agreement today to
manufacture and deliver Australian made critical components for Nextracker’s smart solar tracker used on
distributed generation and utility-scale solar farms. The first project
scheduled to receive delivery of Australian made steel components from the
facility is ACCIONA Energia’s 480MWp Aldoga Solar Farm to be built near
Gladstone.
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Nextracker's
critical steel components manufacturing facility at BlueScope Steel's Orrcon
Steel facility, QLD, Australia (Photo: Nextracker)
Critical
steel components will be produced from BlueScope’s steel coil at Orrcon Steel’s
Salisbury Tube mill in Brisbane and finished at its Northgate site by Baojia,
Nextracker’s global manufacturing partner for delivery to engineering
procurement contractors (EPCs).
The
new manufacturing facility was officially opened today by Queensland Minister
for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs, Mick de Brenni MP; Tania Archibald, Chief
Executive BlueScope Australian Steel Products; Tony Schreiber, Chair of the
Australian Steel Institute and General Manager of Orrcon Steel; and Peter
Wheale, General Manager of Nextracker Australia, Southeast Asia, New Zealand.
“This
foundation strengthens Nextracker’s commitment to deliver energy security to
Australians with a local supply chain and new manufacturing jobs to make clean
energy affordable and accessible. We support Queensland’s Energy and Jobs Plan
and applaud their ambitions to create jobs for the clean energy economy,” said Peter Wheale, Nextracker GM for Australia,
Southeast Asia, and New Zealand.
“In
addition to reducing our carbon footprint by manufacturing critical tracker
components in Australia, the manufacturing facility in Queensland will
accelerate Nextracker’s ability to deliver faster to our customers in Australia
and support large solar farms with quality, high performing solar tracker
systems.”
Tania Archibald, Chief Executive of
BlueScope Australian Steel Products, said, “As one of
Australia’s largest manufacturers, BlueScope continues to invest in our
Australian operations, with more than $2 billion currently committed to secure
our future as a vibrant, modern and sustainable manufacturer with a clear role
to play in enabling Australia’s energy transition.
“As
part of this program, we’ve been undertaking a range of climate related
initiatives – not just in progressing our own ambitions for lower emissions
steelmaking – but focusing on supplying our high-quality steel products that
support our customers and the Australian industry more broadly participate in
the energy transition.”
Tony Schreiber, Chair of the
Australian Steel Institute and General Manager of Orrcon Steel, said,
“Orrcon Steel is one step closer to achieving our ambition to be a significant
participant in Australia’s renewable energy supply chain. Our investment also
includes a large tubular mill at Unanderra NSW, tooling to produce solar torque
tubes and increased warehouse capacity, positioning our business as a key
supplier of products for the rapidly expanding renewable energy sector. The
collaboration with Nextracker and Baojia is another example of how we’re making
a difference in the utility scale solar industry with an Australian made, high
quality product.”
The
manufacturing facility has been commissioned and 16 new jobs have been created
to produce up to 50,000 tonnes of torque tubes, the equivalent of over 2.5GW of
utility scale solar farms.
According
to industry analyst, Rystad, Nextracker is the market leader for solar tracker
systems in Australia with 7.45 GWdc installed or under fulfilment in 13.5 GWdc
of utility-scale PV assets. Nextracker’s award-winning technology has also been
used on some of the country’s largest projects: New England Solar Farm (521
MWd), Stubbo Solar Farm (520 MWd) and Western Downs (460 MWd).
About Nextracker
Nextracker
is a leading provider of intelligent, integrated solar tracker and software
solutions used in utility-scale and distributed generation solar projects
around the world. Its products enable solar panels to follow the sun’s movement
across the sky and optimise plant performance. With plants operating in more
than thirty countries worldwide, Nextracker offers solar tracker technologies
that increase energy production while reducing costs for significant plant ROI.
For more information, visit nextracker.com.
About Orrcon Steel
Orrcon
Steel, a wholly owned business of BlueScope, provides high-quality steel
products and solutions. We locally manufacture steel, tube and pipe supplying a
customer base that includes resellers, stockists, and distributors. The tubular
products are utilised by steel fabricators, furniture and trailer body
manufacturers, housing and construction companies, pipeline and infrastructure
engineering firms, renewables and more. Orrcon Steel Distribution in addition
to local tubular products, provides a range of hot dipped gal pipe, hot rolled
structural steel, fencing and roofing through its network of branches Australia
wide. We employ over 600 Australians who use their steel industry knowledge and
experience to produce and supply reliable steel products.
About Baojia
Baojia
is a leading OEM manufacturer specialising in the design, fabrication, and
supply of high-quality steel structures for solar trackers. With a commitment
to innovation, reliability, and sustainability, we play a pivotal role in the
renewable energy sector by providing robust and efficient solutions for solar
tracking systems. With over decades of experience and expertise in engineering
and manufacturing steel structures tailored for solar trackers, our dedicated
team of professionals ensure that our products meet the highest industry
standards, providing our clients with reliable and durable products for their
solar trackers