The global scenario of uncertainty and climate urgency experienced in 2022 has determined the evolution of photovoltaics. Accelerating the penetration of renewables has become a priority to ensure compliance with environmental commitments and calm the concern of states to achieve energy independence that will enable them to avoid market fluctuations. In this context, GRS has overcome different challenges to keep growing and complete a very positive year. In 2022, it succeeded at consolidating its position as the leading solar EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) in Australia as a major milestone but has also secured a strong presence in key markets such as Spain and the United Kingdom.
With the support of the rest of the Gransolar Group companies in most of its turnkey projects and with the collaboration of top-level partners such as Lightsource BP, X-ELIO and Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), GRS has made a huge leap forward in Australia. With the signing of the utility-scale plants in Wellington North (425 MW), Walla Walla (300 MW) and Wunghnu (90 MW), the company now has 13 projects in the country and a pipeline of nearly 2 GW.
In addition to these three new PV plant contracts to be built throughout 2023, this year was marked by the connection of Blue Grass (200 MW) and Hillston Solar Farm (120 MW), which achieved the milestone of reaching peak performance only three months after commissioning.
To its leadership as a leading constructor in Australia, GRS has added a new challenge with the Longwarry hybrid project. It has relied on E22 batteries to regulate the electricity grid in the area in its first development of its own as an EPC storage company (5 MW/7.5 MWh), a perfect example of the excellent interplay between the different companies of the group. “These ambitious storage projects enable the transition to green energies by ensuring the energy supply, but also help correct grid imbalances and regulate electricity prices”, Carlos López, Managing Director at Gransolar Group in Australia, stated about Longwarry.
Presence in Europe and LATAM
Although focused on Australia, GRS has maintained its activity in other areas of interest, such as the United Kingdom and Spain. The British government’s commitment to renewables, with favorable regulations and relief, has opened an interesting market in the energy sector. For this reason, Gransolar did not miss the opportunity to expand its business in the area and has opened a commercial office in London to manage the activities of GRS and E22 with the aim of strengthening relations with its clients and facilitating the prospecting of potential new collaborators. The inauguration of this office coincided with the completion of Larks Green (70 MW), the first photovoltaic plant with the group’s construction company’s signature completed in the United Kingdom.
On the other hand, GRS has carried out in Chile its 13th project in Latin America with the Elena solar plant, a 540 MW project in line with the ambitious decarbonization challenge proposed by the Chilean government for 2050. In this case, the Spanish company has reached an agreement with Grupo Ibereólicas-Repsol to undertake the first phase of the project, totaling 67.5 MW.
The explosion of photovoltaic energy in Spain has not gone unnoticed by GRS, which will add a 121 MW plant in Carmonitas (Badajoz) to its pipeline in the coming months. Nearby, in Portugal, the Insúa solar installation (48.5 MW) has been operating at full capacity since the first quarter of the year.
With these figures, the Gransolar company faces a very optimistic 2023, in which it expects to consolidate its position as a constructor of utility-scale plants thanks to the positive results obtained worldwide.
