In response to growing demand for its services, PCL Construction has spun off a new solar division.

The company announced the launch of its PCL Solar business on December 7. The company’s head office will reside in Toronto, with satellite officed across the United States and Australia.

"The demand for high-performing solar facilities will only increase in the coming years as the world transitions away from carbon-producing forms of energy generation," says Andrew Moles, general manager of solar for PCL Construction. "PCL has risen to the challenge by assembling an outstanding renewable energy team ready to meet the needs of this ever-growing market."

In the past five years, PCL's Solar team has completed a number of major projects, including the Travers Solar Farm in Alberta, which will be the largest solar project in Canada, the Gunnedah Solar project in New South Wales, Australia, and projects in Texas, Oregon, Georgia, Colorado, Tennessee and beyond.

The solar team performed $1.1 billion worth of work in 2021 alone. It anticipates significant opportunities for continued growth in 2023 and beyond.

Moles will lead the solar operation as general manager. He began his career at PCL in 2007 and started working on solar projects in 2009. Since then, he has led solar expansion efforts across North America and Australia. He has served as a board member on the Canadian Solar Industries Association and as a board member and Vice-Chair of the Utility-Scale Solar Division of the US Solar Energy Industries Association. He is recognized by the Canadian Construction Association as a Gold Seal Certified Project Manager and is a LEED accredited professional.

PCL Solar will be responsible for estimating, design, performance analytics, solar-specific technology, project execution and in-house commissioning.