TCL Solar has been awarded the module supply contract by DT Infrastructure for Edify Energy's Smoky Creek and Guthrie's Gap Solar Power Stations in Central Queensland; the largest solar power station in the world to use back contact technology. At 720MWp, the project marks a defining moment in back contact technology and its growing implementation in large-scale infrastructure.
Since 1985, SunPower has been recognized as the pioneer of back contact solar technology. Following the integration of SunPower into TCL's renewable energy portfolio in March 2025 forming TCL SunPower, those decades of research and intellectual property now combine with TCL's manufacturing excellence. Established in 2008, TCL SunPower Australia is one of the country’s longest‑serving solar providers, supplying the Australian and Pacific markets with two leading module brands: TCL Solar and SunPower.
Smoky Creek and Guthrie's Gap will install TCL Solar Back Contact modules, with module efficiencies up to 24.2%. The modules also carry industry-leading durability, backed by a 30-year performance warranty and 15-year product warranty. BC technology has evolved beyond premium residential into delivering performance at utility scale, operating in Queensland's storm season and other harsh environments.
This isn't TCL SunPower's first milestone project. In 2015, Solar Star in California became the world's largest operating solar farm at the time, built with 1.7 million SunPower back contact panels across more than 13 square kilometers. In Australia, the Limondale Solar Farm, built with 349MW of SunPower TOPCon panels, became the country's largest solar farm when it opened in 2021.
These projects helped establish the credibility of TCL SunPower and the Back Contact technology, paving the way to supply solar modules for the next generation of utility-scale developments such as Smoky Creek and Guthrie’s Gap.
Located approximately 75km south of Rockhampton and 40km north of Biloela, on the traditional lands of the Gaangalu Nation People, Smoky Creek and Guthrie's Gap projects are in Central Queensland. Developed by Edify Energy, the combined project is expected to generate up to 1,589,000MWh of renewable energy annually, this is enough to power more than 244,000 Australian homes while cutting over one million tons of CO₂ emissions each year compared to generating that same energy from fossil fuels.
As back contact technology moves from residential rooftops to utility-scale deployments, TCL Solar is demonstrating how continued investment in advanced solar technology will be key to meet the scale demands of the energy transition.
Read full press release here.
Edify Energy: https://edifyenergy.com/project/smoky-creek-guthries-gap/
DT Infrastructure: https://dtinfrastructure.com.au/smoky-creek-and-guthries-gap-solar-power-stations/