UK-based solar developer Lightsource BP has announced a solar tracker purchase deal with Array Technologies, covering 1.4GW of generation worldwide.
The companies did not disclose the exact price of the deal, but it follows a $100m deal in December 2019 for 1.5GW of trackers. A Lightsource BP statement said the company expects to use the trackers for projects in the US, Australia, and Spain, among others.
Solar trackers tilt solar panels towards the sun throughout the day, increasing their efficiency and power output. Array Technologies sold its DuraTrack HZ v3Model, which it says office a 7% lower lifetime cost compared to other decentralised trackers. The deal also includes plant optimising technology that optimises backtracking and light diffusal for an energy production boost of up to 5%.
Group CEO for Lightsource BP Nick Boyle said: “As we continue to grow and progress our 16GW development pipeline, executing global procurement deals with suppliers like Array Technologies enables us to leverage the efficiencies of our scale.”
Lightsource BP’s previous deal with Array Technologies aimed to optimise 1.5GW of solar generation in the US. The solar developer paid for the trackers using a loan from CoBank ACB, but it has not said how it will finance the new deal.
Before this, the companies collaborated on a 200 MW project in Australia.
First deal since flotation for Array Technologies
US-based Array Technologies produces single-axis trackers for solar panels. The company sold its first shares on the stock market in mid-October, to a good response. The initial public offering price of $22 has now risen to $40, within the space of one month.