Nextracker Partners with Red Edge Resources for Precision Solar Farm Surveying with Stonex Equipment

Global Solar Tracker Leader Selects Red Edge for Advanced Survey Solutions Supporting Renewable Energy Projects

In a strategic partnership that combines global solar energy innovation with precision surveying technology, Nextracker, the world’s leading provider of intelligent solar tracker solutions, has selected Red Edge Resources as their trusted provider of Stonex survey equipment for solar farm projects across Australia. This collaboration delivers cutting-edge GNSS positioning and surveying technology that ensures the precision and efficiency required for large-scale renewable energy installations.

Red Edge Resources is proud to support Nextracker’s mission of accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy by providing advanced Stonex survey solutions, expert technical support, and comprehensive training that enables accurate, efficient solar tracker installation across Australia’s growing renewable energy sector.

About Nextracker: Leading the Solar Revolution

Global Solar Tracker Innovation

Nextracker (NASDAQ: NXT) is the world’s leading provider of intelligent, integrated solar tracker and software solutions used in utility-scale and ground-mounted distributed generation solar projects. With installations across six continents totalling more than 70 gigawatts of solar capacity, Nextracker’s technology maximises solar energy generation whilst reducing installation costs and operational complexity.

Core Technologies:

NX Horizon: Industry-leading single-axis solar tracker system optimising panel orientation throughout the day, maximising energy capture.

TrueCapture: Intelligent software using advanced algorithms and machine learning to optimise tracker positioning, increasing energy yield by up to 5% compared to conventional tracking strategies.

NX Navigator: Comprehensive monitoring and control platform providing real-time visibility and management of solar tracker systems.

Integrated Solutions: Complete systems integrating mechanical, electrical, and software components for seamless installation and operation.

Australian Renewable Energy Leadership

Nextracker maintains significant presence in Australia’s rapidly expanding renewable energy sector, supporting utility-scale solar farms across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. Australia’s abundant solar resources, supportive renewable energy policies, and ambitious emissions reduction targets have created unprecedented demand for large-scale solar installations.

Australian solar projects present unique challenges including:

Vast project scales (100+ megawatt installations common)
Diverse terrain from flat agricultural land to undulating pastoral country
Extreme environmental conditions including heat, dust, and seasonal weather variations
Remote locations requiring efficient logistics and self-sufficient operations
Tight construction schedules demanding maximum productivity

These demanding conditions require survey equipment that delivers exceptional accuracy, reliability, productivity, and comprehensive support—requirements that Stonex equipment and Red Edge Resources expertise fulfil completely.

Why Nextracker Chose Red Edge Resources

Stonex Survey Equipment Expertise

Red Edge Resources brings comprehensive knowledge of Stonex survey technology to the partnership:

Product Knowledge: Deep expertise in Stonex GNSS receivers, rovers, total stations, and surveying solutions, enabling optimal equipment selection for solar farm applications.

Technical Capability: Experienced team capable of equipment configuration, troubleshooting, and optimisation ensuring maximum performance in solar project environments.

Application Experience: Practical knowledge of survey requirements for solar farms including site surveys, tracker layout, as-built verification, and quality control.

Training Delivery: Comprehensive training programs ensuring Nextracker survey personnel and contractors maximise equipment capabilities and productivity.

Renewable Energy Sector Understanding

Red Edge Resources understands the unique requirements of renewable energy projects:

Project Scale: Experience supporting large-scale projects requiring efficient survey workflows and high productivity.

Timeline Sensitivity: Understanding of construction schedule pressures and the critical role survey accuracy plays in project success.

Quality Requirements: Knowledge of precision requirements for solar tracker installation ensuring optimal energy generation.

Remote Operations: Experience supporting projects in remote locations requiring self-sufficient survey operations.

Comprehensive Support Infrastructure

Red Edge Resources provides the support essential for demanding solar farm projects:

Rapid Response: 2-hour response time for technical support and emergency service calls minimises survey downtime.

Remote Support: Phone and remote access technical support enabling rapid problem resolution without site visits.

On-Site Support: When required, capability to provide on-site technical support for complex issues or project-critical situations.

Equipment Backup: Access to backup equipment ensuring project continuity if primary equipment requires servicing.

National Coverage: Support capability across Australia’s diverse solar farm locations from Queensland to Western Australia.

Stonex Survey Equipment: Precision for Solar Farm Applications

Stonex GNSS Rovers

Stonex manufactures advanced GNSS rovers ideal for solar farm surveying:

S900T GNSS Receiver with Tilt Compensation:

Tilt Compensation Technology: Revolutionary tilt compensation enabling measurements without pole levelling, dramatically improving productivity
Multi-Constellation GNSS: Simultaneous tracking of GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and QZSS satellites ensuring maximum positioning reliability
RTK Capability: Real-time kinematic positioning delivering centimetre accuracy for precise tracker layout and verification
IMU Technology: Advanced inertial measurement unit enabling accurate measurements with pole tilted up to 60°, ideal for challenging terrain
Rugged Construction: IP68 environmental protection withstanding dust, moisture, and harsh solar farm conditions
Long Battery Life: Extended operation supporting full-day surveying without recharging
Wireless Connectivity: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabling flexible data communication

S850A GNSS Receiver:

High-Performance Positioning: 555-channel GNSS engine tracking all satellite constellations
RTK and Network RTK: Real-time corrections via radio or cellular networks
Cost-Effective Solution: Professional-grade performance at competitive pricing
Compact Design: Lightweight, ergonomic design for efficient field operations
Reliable Performance: Proven reliability in demanding field conditions

Stonex Cube-a V7 Field Software

Powerful Android-based field software optimised for surveying and construction layout:

Survey Functions:

Point staking and layout with visual guidance
Line and arc staking for tracker row alignment
Grid staking for systematic point layout
Offset staking for parallel alignments
Topographic data collection with feature coding

Construction Layout:

Design file import (DXF, DWG, LandXML)
3D surface staking and cut/fill display
Real-time design visualisation
As-built data collection and verification

Data Management:

Efficient project and job management
Multiple coordinate system support including MGA2020
Data export in industry-standard formats
Cloud integration for data sharing

User Interface:

Intuitive touchscreen interface
Customisable workflows and screens
Visual guidance with directional arrows and distance indicators
Sunlight-readable display

Stonex Total Stations

Precision angle and distance measurement for control surveys and verification:

R2 Plus Total Station:

High Accuracy: 2″ angular accuracy and ±(2mm + 2ppm) distance accuracy
Reflectorless EDM: Measurements to 500m without prisms
Dual-Axis Compensation: Automatic angle correction for precise measurements
Onboard Software: Integrated survey programs for common tasks
Bluetooth Connectivity: Wireless connection to controllers and data collectors

Applications in Solar Farms:

Control network establishment
Precise layout verification
As-built surveys of installed trackers
Quality control measurements
Difficult-to-access locations requiring offset measurements

Solar Farm Survey Applications

Site Survey and Topographic Mapping

Initial site surveys establish baseline conditions and support design:

Topographic Surveys: Comprehensive topographic data collection capturing terrain, existing features, vegetation, and site conditions.

Boundary Surveys: Precise definition of project boundaries and property lines.

Control Networks: Establishment of survey control networks providing reference frameworks for construction.

Geotechnical Investigation Support: Survey support for geotechnical investigation programs.

Environmental Surveys: Documentation of environmental features requiring protection or consideration.

Equipment Requirements: High-productivity GNSS rovers with efficient data collection workflows, total stations for control networks.

Stonex Solution: S900T rovers with tilt compensation enabling rapid topographic data collection across large sites, R2 Plus total stations for control establishment.

Red Edge Support: Equipment configuration for efficient topographic workflows, training on Cube-a software for feature coding and data management.

Tracker Layout and Installation

Precise layout of solar tracker positions is critical for optimal energy generation:

Row Layout: Staking tracker row positions with centimetre accuracy ensuring proper spacing and alignment.

Foundation Marking: Precise marking of pile or foundation positions for each tracker.

Elevation Control: Establishing elevation benchmarks and verifying grading meets design specifications.

Alignment Verification: Ensuring tracker rows maintain proper alignment and orientation.

Quality Control: Continuous verification during installation ensuring compliance with design specifications.

Productivity Requirements: Solar farms may require layout of thousands of tracker positions across hundreds of hectares, demanding maximum survey productivity.

Stonex Solution: S900T rovers with tilt compensation dramatically increase staking productivity by eliminating pole levelling requirements. Single operator can stake 200-400 points per day compared to 100-150 with conventional methods.

Red Edge Contribution: Pre-project training ensuring survey crews achieve maximum productivity from day one, design file preparation and loading, ongoing technical support throughout construction.

As-Built Surveys and Verification

Post-installation surveys verify construction quality and support commissioning:

Position Verification: Surveying installed tracker positions verifying compliance with design layouts.

Elevation Verification: Confirming tracker elevations meet specifications ensuring proper drainage and operation.

Alignment Checks: Verifying row alignment and tracker orientation.

Quality Documentation: Comprehensive as-built documentation supporting project acceptance and commissioning.

Warranty Support: Survey data supporting warranty compliance and future maintenance.

Equipment Requirements: Efficient data collection methods capturing as-built positions of thousands of trackers.

Stonex Solution: GNSS rovers with efficient data collection workflows, total stations for detailed verification measurements.

Red Edge Support: As-built survey workflow development, data processing and reporting assistance.

Grading and Civil Works Support

Solar farms require site grading and civil infrastructure:

Grading Verification: Surveying site grading ensuring proper drainage and tracker installation conditions.

Road Layout: Staking access roads and maintenance tracks.

Drainage Installation: Layout and verification of drainage infrastructure.

Substation and Inverter Pad Layout: Precise positioning of electrical infrastructure.

Cable Trench Layout: Staking cable trench alignments and depths.

Equipment Requirements: Versatile survey equipment supporting diverse civil construction tasks.

Stonex Solution: GNSS rovers providing positioning for all civil works applications, total stations for precise infrastructure layout.

Project Benefits: Precision Enabling Performance

Optimised Energy Generation

Precise tracker installation directly impacts energy generation:

Alignment Accuracy: Proper tracker alignment ensures optimal sun tracking throughout the day, maximising energy capture.

Spacing Precision: Accurate row spacing prevents shading between tracker rows while maximising site utilisation.

Elevation Control: Proper elevation ensures trackers operate correctly and drainage prevents water accumulation.

Orientation: Precise north-south orientation (for single-axis trackers) ensures optimal tracking geometry.

Impact: Even small positioning errors can reduce energy generation by 1-3%, representing significant revenue loss over 25+ year project lifespans. Centimetre-level survey accuracy ensures maximum energy generation and return on investment.

Reduced Installation Costs

Survey accuracy and productivity directly impact construction costs:

First-Time Accuracy: Precise layout eliminates rework from positioning errors, saving time and labour costs.

Increased Productivity: Efficient survey methods accelerate construction schedules, reducing overall project costs.

Reduced Survey Crew Size: Tilt compensation technology enables single-operator surveying, reducing labour costs.

Minimised Delays: Reliable survey equipment and support prevent survey-related delays that cascade through construction schedules.

Quality Assurance: Accurate surveys prevent costly post-installation corrections and warranty issues.

Accelerated Project Timelines

Large solar farms operate under tight construction schedules:

Survey Productivity: High-productivity survey methods prevent survey activities from becoming schedule bottlenecks.

Parallel Operations: Efficient surveying enables multiple construction crews to work simultaneously across large sites.

Weather Independence: Reliable GNSS positioning enables surveying during marginal weather conditions that would stop conventional methods.

Rapid Mobilisation: Straightforward equipment setup and operation enables rapid survey crew mobilisation.

Continuous Progress: Reliable equipment and support ensure continuous survey progress without technical delays.

Quality Assurance and Documentation

Comprehensive survey data supports quality management:

Design Compliance: Survey data documents compliance with design specifications throughout construction.

Quality Control: Continuous verification identifies and corrects issues before they become major problems.

As-Built Documentation: Comprehensive as-built surveys provide essential documentation for commissioning, operations, and maintenance.

Warranty Support: Survey documentation supports warranty compliance and future claims if required.

Performance Verification: Survey data enables correlation of installation quality with energy generation performance.

Regional Applications: Australian Solar Farms

Queensland Solar Projects

Queensland hosts numerous large-scale solar farms leveraging the state’s excellent solar resources:

Project Examples: Western Downs, Darling Downs, and Central Queensland solar farms ranging from 100MW to 400MW+ capacity.

Survey Challenges: Large project scales, undulating terrain, summer heat and storms, remote locations.

Stonex Solution: S900T rovers with tilt compensation enabling efficient surveying across challenging terrain, rugged construction withstanding Queensland’s harsh summer conditions.

Red Edge Support: Brisbane-based support providing rapid response for Queensland projects, local technical expertise understanding Queensland conditions.

New South Wales Solar Developments

NSW hosts significant solar development across western and regional areas:

Project Examples: Solar farms across New England, Central West, and Riverina regions.

Survey Challenges: Diverse terrain from flat plains to rolling hills, temperature extremes, seasonal weather variations.

Stonex Solution: Multi-constellation GNSS ensuring reliable positioning across diverse terrain and atmospheric conditions.

Red Edge Support: Technical support across NSW’s extensive geography, equipment configuration for regional conditions.

Victoria Renewable Energy Zone Projects

Victoria’s renewable energy zones drive solar farm development:

Project Examples: Solar farms supporting Victoria’s renewable energy targets across regional Victoria.

Survey Challenges: Variable terrain, seasonal weather including winter conditions, integration with wind farm developments.

Stonex Solution: All-weather GNSS performance maintaining productivity through Victorian seasonal variations.

Red Edge Support: Support for Victorian projects, understanding of local conditions and requirements.

South Australian Solar Installations

South Australia leads Australia’s renewable energy transition with extensive solar development:

Project Examples: Large-scale solar farms across regional South Australia supporting the state’s renewable energy leadership.

Survey Challenges: Flat to gently undulating terrain, extreme summer heat, dust, remote locations.

Stonex Solution: Rugged equipment proven in South Australian conditions, efficient workflows maximising productivity in extreme heat.

Red Edge Support: Support for South Australian projects, technical expertise for remote operations.

Western Australian Solar Growth

Western Australia’s mining regions and Perth metropolitan area drive solar development:

Project Examples: Solar farms supporting mining operations and grid-connected projects across WA’s vast geography.

Survey Challenges: Extreme remoteness, harsh Pilbara conditions, large project scales, limited infrastructure.

Stonex Solution: Reliable equipment capable of self-sufficient operation in remote locations, long battery life supporting extended field operations.

Red Edge Support: National support capability reaching WA’s remote project locations.

The Red Edge Advantage: Supporting Nextracker Projects

Pre-Project Planning and Preparation

Red Edge Resources supports projects from inception:

Equipment Selection: Consultation on optimal equipment configuration for specific project requirements.

Design File Preparation: Assistance preparing tracker layout files in formats compatible with Stonex field software.

Coordinate System Setup: Configuration of appropriate coordinate systems (typically MGA2020) and transformations.

RTK Network Configuration: Setup of RTK correction sources including CORS networks or project base stations.

Equipment Testing: Pre-deployment testing ensuring equipment meets specifications and project requirements.

Comprehensive Training

Training ensures survey crews achieve maximum productivity:

Equipment Operation: Detailed training on Stonex GNSS rovers, controllers, and field software.

Tilt Compensation Training: Specific instruction on S900T tilt compensation technology and optimal usage techniques.

Cube-a Software Training: In-depth training on field software including staking workflows, data collection, and file management.

Solar-Specific Workflows: Training focused on efficient workflows for tracker layout and verification.

Troubleshooting: Instruction on common issues and field troubleshooting enabling crew self-sufficiency.

Hands-On Practice: Practical training on actual equipment ensuring crew confidence before project commencement.

Ongoing Technical Support

Comprehensive support throughout project duration:

Remote Support: Phone and remote access support for troubleshooting and problem resolution.

On-Site Support: When required, on-site technical support for complex issues or project-critical situations.

Design File Support: Assistance with design file updates, modifications, and troubleshooting.

Software Updates: Regular software updates providing improvements and new features.

Equipment Calibration: Verification and calibration services ensuring continued accuracy.

Backup Equipment: Access to backup equipment if primary equipment requires servicing.

Post-Project Support

Support extending beyond project completion:

As-Built Data Processing: Assistance processing and formatting as-built survey data.

Documentation: Support preparing survey documentation for project