#SFIEurope: Huge potential but unique challenges for Australia’s O&M market

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

As the afternoon sessions at this year's Solar Finance and Investment Europe split into two streams with country focuses, one of the newest to gain interest was Australia, which was said to face unique challenges created by the weather and a harsh environment.

Barry Bennett, head of international O&M at BELECTRIC, presented key O&M challenges for solar assets in Australia, looking at lessons the company has learnt from its four solar farms in the country. The spotlight fell particularly on the 349MWp Limondale solar plant near Balranald (New South Wales), set to become the firm's largest plant to date once operational.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

According to Bennett, there are seven key areas those interested in O&M in the country must be aware of. One of the most significant is the weather, with the effects of climate change becoming increasingly obvious.

With the rising temperature, the challenges to the safety of O&M workers increases, as systems must be put in place to ensure they stay hydrated.

The danger of bushfires is also increasing as temperatures rise, making it more important than ever to maintain growth around cabling and sites. 

Other weather challenges include lightning, thunder and dust storms. The latter has a major impact on the cleaning of the panels, which has to be done at least eight times a year and creates particular challenges given Australia's higher water prices. 

Manpower is another challenge facing the O&M market there, as engineers have a generally high wage in the country, with management generally being paid the equivalent of £75,000 (US$97,400) a year.

Animals can also provide an unusual maintenance problem, with cockatoos chewing through equipment and birds sitting on panels and causing damaging soiling. This is a challenge Bennett said he is “still waiting for a proven solution” for.

Despite the challenges the future for growth in Australia is “huge” continued Bennett, especially from an O&M perspective.

Consultants at Rystad Energy said last month that Australia could commission up to 3.6GWac of solar and wind capacity by the end of 2020. This would set a “new record” after 2019’s figure of 2.6Wac.

The 3.6GWac forecast for 2020 is split between PV (1.96GWac) and wind (1.57GWac). It could be a reversal of Australia's “quiet spell” towards late 2019, as Rystad described it. 

The same bushfire crisis complicating O&M work is indirectly driving uptake of small-scale solar, as Australians resort to these systems in an effort to secure themselves from grid outages.

Read Next

July 3, 2025
Malaysian engineering and infrastructure giant Gamuda has expanded its presence in the Australian renewables sector by partnering with Tasmanian landowners to build a 1.2GW portfolio, which includes solar PV.
July 2, 2025
A new state-owned green bank, the Energy Security Corporation (ESC), has launched in New South Wales, Australia, with an initial funding allocation of AU$1 billion (US$640 million).
Premium
July 2, 2025
ANALYSIS: China's leading PV manufacturers are locked in a new round of competition, aiming to outpace each other through record-breaking feats.
July 2, 2025
Indigenous-led renewable energy company Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) has submitted plans for a hybrid wind and solar PV renewable energy project to the Australian government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
July 2, 2025
Robotics company Luminous has received AU$4.9 million (US$3.2 million) via Australia’s Solar ScaleUp Challenge to support deploying its ‘LUMI’ technology at utility-scale solar PV power plants.
July 1, 2025
A five-year research initiative is underway in Australia to test the viability of floating solar systems on irrigation dams.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK