Victoria’s Largest Solar Farm Fully Commissioned with Robotic Technology
The largest solar farm in Victoria has officially been handed over to its operators, concluding an intriguing construction phase that showcased a variety of robotic technologies. The Goorambat East solar farm, boasting a capacity of 250 megawatts and located near Benalla in northern Victoria, is a groundbreaking project for Engie, marking their first solar installation in Australia. Engie is also the owner of the Hazelwood battery situated at the site of the defunct coal facility.
In 2023, Engie acquired the project from Neoen, with much of the construction finalised by late last year when initial electricity was transmitted to the grid. Contractor Equans ANZ announced this week the official completion of construction and project handover.
“That’s a wrap on Goorambat East Solar Farm – a 250 MVA project in Victoria, now fully commissioned and officially handed over to O&M,” remarked Equans ANZ project engineer Vincent Fendel in a LinkedIn update on Tuesday. “It’s a tremendous accomplishment for everyone involved in delivering this project on schedule. From November 2024 to June 2026 – from the first trench to the last string test – it has been a remarkable journey. I’m immensely proud of what we’ve built together.”
Innovative Technologies in Action
Goorambat East is among various solar initiatives in Australia testing robotic innovations to streamline installations that typically require extensive manual labour. According to reports from Renew Economy, the project has collaborated with several companies to explore automation in the installation of solar panel mountings and pilings.
One notable participant, Boston-based Luminous Robotics, received a substantial $4.9 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) to trial their panel installation robots. Luminous CEO Jay Wong noted that these robots could install 103 per cent more modules than the usual target for their contractor teams.
Additionally, the Chinese firm Leapting conducted trials at Goorambat East with technology designed to replace human teams of up to four workers, facilitating the installation of heavier panels.
A Test Ground for Future Innovations
Goorambat East also served as a testing ground for an auto-pile driver developed by Build Robotics, which received financial support from Arena. The robotic trials were spearheaded by contractors Bouygues Construction Australia and Equans Solar & Storage Australia, with Engie optimistic that such innovations will ultimately reduce construction costs.
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