Cart
(
0
)
Your Cart
No items found.
Product is not available in this quantity.
When European Energy needed a turnkey mechanical installation partner for the 105MW Lancaster Solar Farm — a major utility-scale build two hours north-east of Melbourne — they turned to a contractor they had partnered with, from their very first project in Australia: Pilecom.
The result is one of the more efficient large-scale solar farm builds completed in regional Victoria in 2025: 24,086 piles driven, 170,050 modules installed, and a successful trial deployment of an automated module installation system — all delivered on schedule and to Pilecom's safety and quality standards.
Project name:
Lancaster Solar Farm
LocationLancaster, Victoria
Developer
European Energy
Project Scale
105 MW single-axis traker
Project Duration
May- December 2025
Pilecom scope
Logistics, survey, pile driving, tracker & module installation
Lancaster Solar Farm presented a combination of constraints that would test any solar construction contractor.
The site offered very limited working space outside the footprint of the build itself, leaving no room for the kind of large-scale component laydown areas that simplify utility-scale construction. Compounding this, large water channels cut through the farm — restricting vehicle access, dictating the sequence of works, and forcing careful planning around every block.
The build also ran on a compressed construction timeframe, with multiple contractors working concurrently across every block of the farm. Coordination with civil, electrical and balance-of-plant teams was constant — and any miscommunication risked compounding delays across trades.
Finally, ground conditions on site had shifted from those identified in the pre-build geotechnical investigation. For a project anchored by more than 24,000 piles, that variability needed to be addressed quickly without slowing the production schedule.
Tightly controlled logistics scheduling was the foundation. With minimal laydown area available, Pilecom and European Energy worked out a staged delivery approach together — European Energy stored components close by, while Pilecom shared its flexible receiving capacity, so materials arrived only as needed.
That partnership kept storage pressure off site, freed up European Energy's holding areas as the build progressed, and stopped work zones from getting congested. To navigate the water channels cutting through the farm, Pilecom and EE developed a detailed flow of works that minimised the number of channel crossings.
The production schedule was set early and adhered to strictly, allowing every team — Pilecom's and the other contractors on site — to plan with confidence. When the changed ground conditions were identified, Pilecom adapted the piling rigs to run high-powered hammers, ensuring drivability through the variable ground without compromising the production rate or pile integrity.
Throughout the build, constant open communication with other contractors working in and around the same blocks prevented clashes, kept access points clear, and protected the broader project programme.
The Lancaster build also became the site for a successful trial deployment of automated module installation — a step forward in how Pilecom approaches large-scale mechanical installation, and a deliverable that points to the future of utility-scale solar construction in Australia.
On-time delivery
Project completed on schedule (May - December 2025)
Piles driven
24,086
Modules delivered
170,050
Quality & safety
Delivered to Pilecom's quality and safety standrards
Innovation
Succesful trial deploymet of automated module installation
Client relationship
Partnership with Wuropean Energy continued until today (currently building Winton North project)
"Pilecom successfully delivered the 106MW Lancaster Solar Farm project in record time, maintaining exceptional quality standards and a strong commitment to safety throughout. Having worked with Pilecom for over seven years across multiple projects, they have consistently proven to be reliable, high-performing, and a pleasure to partner with." - European Energy
Why It Matters
Lancaster is a clear demonstration of the model Pilecom has built its reputation on: a single, in-house turnkey partner managing logistics, survey, piling and mechanical installation under one roof — supported by the equipment flexibility and communication discipline that utility-scale projects demand.
For developers, EPCs and asset owners planning utility-scale solar projects in Victoria, NSW or anywhere across Australia, Lancaster shows what's possible when the mechanical installer is brought in as a long-term partner rather than a sub-trade.
