Sydney-based solar technology company 5B has been granted $14 million to accelerate the automation of its solar arrays production and deployment. The funding, from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), will support 5B’s $33.4 million tech innovation program to design a high-volume, scalable and predominantly automated manufacturing line at its headquarters in Mascot, Sydney.
The 5B Maverick, which was released in 2017, is a modular, pre-fabricated solar array that can be built and pre-wired in a factory and rapidly deployed in the field. The arrays have already been installed in 52 projects in Australia, the United States, Latin America and India. They are also being flagged as the preferred technology for Sun Cable’s solar farm being developed in the Northern Territory that will form part of the world’s first intercontinental power grid.
Two-thirds of 5B’s innovation program budget will be dedicated to the development of an Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Line (AMPL). 5B claims this AMPL will take the company’s automated manufacturing process to the next level, dramatically improving the scalability and cost of their solution while fast-tracking the roll-out of renewable energy projects that are vital to decarbonising our future.
Nicole Kuepper-Russell, 5B Chief Operating Officer, further explained how the company is supporting the federal government’s target of ‘Solar 30 30 30’ to improve solar efficiency to 30% and reduce the cost of solar to 30 cents a watt installed by 2030.
“The world needs massive scale, ultra low cost solar power fast and this funding will accelerate the delivery of that. It gives us the opportunity to build Australia’s reputation as a clean energy superpower, exporting cutting edge clean technology to the world.”
5B has also allocated a portion of its program budget towards the development of a GPS Guided Deployment (GGD) field robotic system to automate the process of deploying its technology. Dubbed as the “next frontier” or solar technology, artificial intelligence-enabled solar installation will allow for faster, cheaper, safer and more efficient solar farm construction.
Production automation combined with GDD technology aims to reduce the overall capital cost of a solar farm featuring 5B arrays, with a 35% cost reduction forecast by 2024 and a 70% cost reduction by 2030, to 30 cents per watt.
Ultra low-cost solar in the spotlight
Australian solar innovation, particularly towards the development of ultra-low cost solar, is a key focus for the government as the country looks to reach its net zero target by 2050.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said, “While solar PV and wind are recognised as the lowest cost form of generation in Australia today, further cost reductions are required to optimise Australia’s transition to renewable electricity and to enable emerging industries such as renewable hydrogen and low emissions metals.
“5B is an Australian success story at the forefront of solar innovation. Having started in 2013, they are now becoming leaders in locally manufactured ultra low-cost solar products that could reshape our solar industry and achieve our important aim of 30 cents per installed watt at utility-scale by 2030.”
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