Australia’s domestic renewable energy sector continues to grow at a rapid pace, with 56,000 household battery systems installed during 2023 and more than 337,000 rooftop solar installations adding 3.1 GW of capacity to the energy mix, according to the 2024 Clean Energy Australia Report. Utility-scale renewable energy is also gaining momentum, with the report finding:
- Wind energy accounted for 33.2 per cent of utility-scale renewable energy and 13.2 per cent of overall electricity
- 22 x large-scale renewable energy projects were completed, adding 2.8 GW of capacity
- Investment in large-scale renewable energy storage reached a record $4.9 billion, up from $1.9 billion in 2022.
“In Australia, there’s a lot of construction activity focused on building wind and solar farms, but we’re also starting to see more interest in developing the infrastructure to store and distribute this type of energy,” says Benjamin Hudson, Regional Sales Manager for Coates.
While overseas contractors have historically played a key role in renewable infrastructure projects, top-tier construction companies in Australia are increasingly expanding their capacity to deliver these projects.
“As the need and demand for large-scale renewable energy grows, the hire industry has an important role to play in supporting the safe, efficient and sustainable construction of renewable energy infrastructure,” says Hudson.
Tailored equipment solutions for the renewable energy sector
With many renewable infrastructure projects located in regional areas, temporary site accommodation is essential for supporting the construction workforce, says Hudson.
“This is often one of the highest energy users on a project site, so we also offer hybrid generators, solar panels and battery storage to power these compounds, reduce fuel consumption and deliver cost savings for the life of the project,” he says.
Building renewable energy infrastructure often involves challenges such as uneven or wet terrain.
“Coates offers equipment designed to tackle these conditions, including all-terrain forklifts and telehandlers, road plates and posi track skid steers. We also provide field service, including 24/7 breakdown support, ensuring that any downtime doesn’t impact project timelines,” says Hudson.
Scalable support for regional infrastructure projects
The eastern states, in particular, are seeing growth in renewable infrastructure projects, with Coates supporting the delivery of major projects in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
“The size and breadth of Coates’ fleet and the geographical spread of its branch network helps customers to access what they need when and where they need it, which is particularly important when projects are located outside of the metro area,” says Hudson.
For example, with 14 strategically located branches across southwest NSW, Coates is well-positioned to provide scalable support for projects in Renewable Energy Zones (REZ). These zones, designated by the NSW government, cluster large-scale renewable energy projects, like the New England Solar Farm, Wollar Solar Farm and Wellington North Solar Farm, in locations where energy can be efficiently stored and transmitted.
“Our branches are in or near these REZs, ensuring fast access to equipment and quick response times to meet evolving project needs. Additionally, our national network and logistics hubs in Sydney, Newcastle and Canberra ensure we can rapidly deploy a wide range of equipment,” Hudson explains.
To further ensure seamless service, Coates assigns a dedicated Major Projects Manager to each customer, providing a single point of contact for all project needs.
“We offer a complete turnkey solution, handling everything from supplying specialist equipment to providing essential services like toilet cleaning, pump-outs and restocking consumables,” says Hudson. “This comprehensive approach allows customers to stay focused on project delivery, removing the burden of day-to-day site management responsibilities.”
In focus: New England Solar Farm
New England Solar is a 720MW solar and battery project currently being built in stages near Uralla in the NSW New England region. Once fully constructed, it will produce enough renewable energy to power around 300,000 homes each year. Coates provided a comprehensive equipment solution to support construction, including:
- Site complexes and compounds with ablution blocks and septic pump-outs
- Portaloos with pump-out service, cleaning and consumables
- Caravans
- Shipping containers for storage
- Barriers – concrete and water-filled plastic barriers
- Telehandlers
- Forklifts AWD and rough terrain
- Posi track skid steer
- Rough terrain scissors
- Small tractors
- Slashers attachment
- Excavators
- Pumps
- Generators
- Lighting towers – hybrid and diesel
- Road plates
- Utes and trucks
- Water trucks and water delivery
- Site waste management, including the removal of plastics and wood pallets
Matt Reilly, EPC Construction Manager – Utility Solar, says: “I would recommend partnering with Coates in the delivery of utility-renewables projects due to their responsive service, competitive pricing and broad range of plant, equipment and site accommodation.
Having a dedicated, regional-based project manager for the full duration of the project enabled a strong relationship to be developed and maintained throughout project delivery. The project teams at Coates, from project management through to the field servicing teams, demonstrate exceptional commitment to the delivery of our projects.”
Find out how Coates can enhance your next renewable energy infrastructure project.
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