A LEADING Wodonga manufacturer has teamed up with a German company considered to be a world leader in its field to create a product tailor made to the booming Australian solar energy market.
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Wilson Transformers, which has more than half its 500-plus nationwide workforce based in Wodonga, and SMA have joined forces to build the “Power Skid Australia” which incorporates a range of solar inverters, transformers and switchgear, mounted on a steel platform for maximum durability.
It is the latest renewable sector solution created by Wilson Transformers, which linked with SMA around two years ago.
The product launch was held in Wodonga on Thursday with representatives from Germany in attendance including SMA executive vice-president Boris Wolff.
“Since the Australian market has grown quite fast in the last one and a half years we’ve decided to have a local partnership,” he said.
“We see a long-term prospect with the Australian solar market and have decided to partner with Wilson.
“We don’t want to ship products that fall apart after the warranty has expired.”
The partnership has the potential to create 30 to 50 jobs.
Solar farms are bobbing up along the Victorian-NSW border including a $130 million project proposed north of Mulwala.
A solar inverter is a key part of the solar electric power system and converts variable direct current (DC) from the panels into alternating 240V current (AC).
“It effectively transforms DC to AC and a connection to the grid,” Wilson Transformers managing director Ed Wilson said.
“There are a lot of solar farms going into Victoria and right around the country.
“At the moment it will be used in Australia, but export is certainly not off the table.
“This is the first one of this size, but we have made some smaller units which are already operating in the field.”
The “Power Skid Australia” will be manufactured in Wodonga enabling clients to benefit from simplified logistics and shorter installation and commissioning periods.
SMA has its global headquarters in central Germany and has a presence in 20 other countries.
It has more than 3000 employees worldwide.
Wilson Transformers is undergoing a $10 million expansion of its Moloney Drive headquarters.
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