19 August 2013 - Today, First Solar and Ingenero announced a new collaboration arrangement to provide a joint offering to the commercial and off-grid solar markets. The partnership will combine Ingenero's design, development and integration experience with First Solar's thin-film photovoltaic (PV) module technology and demonstrated track record in utility-scale projects to meet market requirements within Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
The collaboration will combine both company's capabilities to increase the number of ground-mounted solar projects in Australia.
"Today we celebrate another milestone in our company's short but dynamic history. A collaboration agreement with First Solar and the opportunity to utilise its thin-film PV module technology brings with it the increased capability and flexibility needed to be successful in a growing market," said Ingenero CEO, Steve McRae.
"This year we made the leap into the international solar market, building a complex hybrid off-grid solar power plant on the island of Vava'u, Tonga. These kinds of off-grid applications, as well as commercial and utility scale applications, hold significant growth opportunities internationally," said Mr McRae. "Partnering with a company of this calibre means Ingenero will continue to grow its commercial and utility solar business within Australia and broaden its international footprint while continuing to deliver high quality, innovative solar solutions to its existing and future customer base."
First Solar's Asia Pacific Vice President of Business Development and Sales, Jack Curtis, said the new partnership will leverage the synergies between the two businesses.
"In collaborating with Ingenero, Australia's leading integrator in the small to medium scale solar sector, First Solar is better positioning itself to meet the needs of the commercial and off-grid solar markets in Australia and Asia Pacific," said Mr Curtis. "First Solar's primary focus has been utility-scale projects and we continue to be the world leader in this market segment. This collaboration will provide us with additional origination and execution diversity in medium-scale projects that will allow us to broaden our accessible demand pool across the region and meet the needs of customers that are looking to utilise our thin-film PV module technology in these types of applications," he said.
