TCL Solar to supply back-contact modules to Australian solar projects

TCL Solar, a unit of Chinese industrial conglomerate TCL Technology, has been selected to supply the PV modules for the Smoky Creek and Guthrie’s Gap solar and battery projects being developed in Central Queensland, Australia, by Australian renewable energy developers Edify Energy.

The adjacent renewable energy facilities, to be built across an 1,800-hectare site near the town of Biloela, will together comprise 600 MW (720 MWp) of solar generation and 600 MW/2,400 MWh of DC-coupled battery energy storage systems.

Sydney-headquartered Edify, owned by Canadian investment group La Caisse, awarded the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for the projects to Queensland-based DT Infrastructure earlier this year. The contractor has now tapped TCL to supply the modules for the solar farms.

“At 720 MWp, the Smoky Creek and Guthrie’s Gap solar power stations will together, become the largest solar project in the world to utilise back-contact (BC) solar technology,” TCL said in a statement.

Frank Zhang, president of international business at TCL and director of SunPower Australia, said the project is a defining moment for BC technology and reinforces the growing confidence in the product for large-scale renewable energy infrastructure.

“This represents a pivotal moment not only for TCL Solar, but for the future of back-contact technology in utility-scale applications,” he said. “It demonstrates that BC technology has evolved beyond premium residential markets and is now ready to deliver unparalleled value at the largest scales of solar deployment.”

TCL said the Smoky Creek and Guthrie’s Gap solar farms will utilize BC modules featuring efficiencies of up to 24.2%. The modules are backed by a 30-year performance warranty and a 15-year product warranty.

The supply agreement comes after TCL’s manufacturing arm TCL Zhonghuan last month approved a $385.1 million (CNY 2.6 billion) upgrade project to convert 20 GW of TOPCon cell and 25 GW of TOPCon module capacity at its Chinese facilities into BC production lines. 

Construction of the Smoky Creek and Guthrie’s Gap projects is yet to start but Edify said early pre-construction and design works have already commenced.

TCL added that module installation is expected to begin early next year ahead of a targeted delivery and operations in 2028. Once operational, it is expected the Smoky Creek and Guthrie’s Gap facilities will generate almost 1.6 TWh of energy annually, supplying reliable power to the regional network and supporting a long-term energy supply agreement with mining giant Rio Tinto.

Edify said both projects will utilize DC-coupled hybrid configurations and grid-forming inverter technologies designed to enhance network stability and support the integration of large-scale renewable energy into the grid.