What 5B does

5B is an Australian clean-technology company founded in 2013 that designs, manufactures, and deploys the 5B Maverick — a prefabricated, pre-wired, accordion-foldable, ground-mounted solar array. Each Maverick delivers approximately 53 kWp (around 90 panels at 545-595 Wp), is built in automated factories in Adelaide and overseas, and ships folded in standard 40' High-Cube containers for on-site deployment by crews as small as three people in under an hour. The arrays are redeployable and engineered for non-standard sites (waste rock dumps, tailings dams, landfills, sloping terrain up to 3°) and extreme environments (wind resilience rated up to 93 m/s, third-party structurally certified). Differentiated performance claims — up to 10x faster deployment, ~2x the power density per hectare (DNV-modelled), ~30% of the onsite labour of single-axis trackers, and 75% less onsite DC cabling — are the core of the value proposition.

Name

5B

Legal name

5B Holdings Pty Ltd

Website

https://5b.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

5B is an Australian solar technology company that designs, manufactures, and deploys the prefabricated 5B Maverick ground-mounted solar array — a rapidly deployable, high energy-density system used primarily by mining companies, utilities, and industrial operators globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mascot

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 5B Maverick Solar Array Hardware Sales: 5B manufactures and sells its prefabricated, pre-wired Maverick solar array units. Arrays are shipped folded in shipping containers from its Adelaide and overseas manufacturing facilities to project sites. The customer or deployment partner receives the hardware and installs it. Revenue is generated per array/unit sold, with pricing dependent on project size, site requirements, and configuration. This is the primary revenue driver.
2. Deployment and Professional Services: 5B provides deployment services through its global network of accredited deployment partners and may provide engineering, project delivery, and commissioning support. Services include site assessment, array configuration, deployment oversight, and ongoing operational support. Revenue from services is project-specific and tied to hardware deployments.
3. Licensing and Technology Royalties: 5B licenses its patented Maverick technology, deployment processes, and associated IP to international manufacturing and deployment partners. The company has partnerships exploring North American manufacturing hub establishment, indicating licensing revenue as a growth stream alongside hardware sales.
4. Strategic Project Collaboration Revenue: Revenue is generated through strategic project collaborations with energy companies (e.g., AES, Zenith Energy) and investors (bp/Lightsource bp) where 5B's technology is specified in large hybrid renewable energy projects. Projects range from 10 MW to 140 MW solar components for mining and utility applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

5B manufactures and sells the 5B Maverick, a prefabricated, pre-wired, east-west oriented, accordion-foldable ground-mounted solar array. Each Maverick unit is factory-assembled with approximately 90 modules (545-595 Wp), delivers about 53 kWp, ships folded in standard 40' High-Cube containers, and deploys on-site by small crews. The company also provides deployment services through accredited global partners and licenses its Maverick technology to international manufacturers.

Product overview

5B is an Australian solar technology company offering a unified product portfolio anchored by the 5B Maverick - a prefabricated, pre-wired ground-mounted solar array technology. The 5B Maverick is a core product delivering approximately 53kWp per array with rapid deployment capabilities (up to 10x faster than conventional solar) and high energy density (up to 2x more power per hectare). The portfolio is supported by the Solar Sunshot Project (an ARENA-funded initiative to scale Australian manufacturing and accelerate automation) and the 5B Ecosystem (a global network of certified deployment partners). Together, these offerings enable utility-scale solar deployment across remote mining, commercial/industrial, and community applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 5B Maverick: Prefabricated, pre-wired, rapidly deployable ground-mounted solar array technology (accordion-style, 50-70 kW per array) designed for utility-scale solar farms, with wind resilience rated up to 93 m/s.
• 5B Ecosystem

Products and services

• 5B Maverick Prefabricated, pre-wired, east-west oriented, accordion-foldable ground-mounted solar array delivered as approximately 53 kWp per unit (around 90 modules at 545-595 Wp). Factory-assembled, shipped folded in standard 40' High-Cube containers, and deployed on-site by small crews. Features include rapid deployment (up to 10x faster than conventional solar), 93 m/s wind resilience, low ground penetration, redeployability, and up to 2x more power per hectare than conventional tracking (DNV modelled). Sold to mining companies, utilities, and industrial operators for utility-scale solar projects from 1 MW to 140 MW.
• 5B Ecosystem Global network of accredited deployment partners and ecosystem partners that install and commission 5B Maverick arrays on customer sites. Partners are trained and certified by 5B to deploy according to certified procedures, including site preparation, mechanical installation, cabling, and commissioning. Provides customers with access to regional installation expertise and supports 5B's expansion across Australia, Latin America, the US, and other markets.
• Solar Sunshot Project ARENA-funded manufacturing scaling initiative to expand 5B's Australian production capacity and accelerate automation of the 5B Maverick technology. The project runs from December 2024 to November 2029 and is designed to reduce capital costs and build Australian production capacity for the large-scale solar market.

Quantifiable outcome

• Deploys up to 10x faster than conventional solar technologies
• +14 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major, notable and core.

• FortescuemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025Fortescue is the host site operator for the Pilbara Solar Innovation Hub (PSIH), a 500 MW testbed for emerging solar technologies at Fortescue's Pilbara site in Western Australia. ARENA is providing AU$45 million funding for the hub. 5B will deploy its Maverick technology at the project from early 2026. The project supports Fortescue's ultra-low-cost solar objectives in the Pilbara region.
• IberdrolanotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20225B won Iberdrola's Start-Up Challenge 2022 for innovative structures optimising the cost of large photovoltaic plants. Iberdrola recognised 5B's benefits including alternative materials, lower steel ratio per MW built, and sustainable structures compared to conventional photovoltaic plant designs. 5B was one of five global winners of the Perseo International Start-Up Programme.
• Zenith EnergycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZenith Energy is a key deployment partner and customer for 5B, deploying Maverick arrays at multiple Australian mining sites (Jundee for Northern Star Resources, Kathleen Valley for Liontown Resources). Zenith Energy signed a 25-year PPA with Northern Star to supply a 532 MW hybrid wind-solar-battery project — Australia's largest renewable energy project for the mining sector. Zenith Energy was awarded the contract based on 5B's rapid deployment and safety advantages.
• SolarMovilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSolarMovil is 5B's Latin American deployment partner, responsible for deploying 5B Maverick arrays in Chile and across the region. SolarMovil achieved the 1.1 MW in a single day deployment record at AES' Andes Solar II B facility in the Atacama Desert, Chile, using 22 next-generation 5B Maverick arrays with a crew of 10.
• Lightsource bpmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLightsource bp (bp's 50-50 solar joint venture) will explore collaboration opportunities with 5B for deploying Maverick technology on future Lightsource bp projects. This partnership supports 5B's international expansion, particularly in markets where Lightsource bp operates.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Nextracker: Nextracker is the world's largest solar tracker manufacturer, directly competing with 5B in utility-scale ground-mount solar racking and tracking systems. Both companies target utility-scale solar developers globally and compete on cost-per-watt and energy yield, though 5B's prefabricated factory-built approach differs from Nextracker's traditional single-axis tracker architecture.
• Array Technologies: Array Technologies is a leading US-listed solar tracker manufacturer serving utility-scale projects globally. It competes directly with 5B in the ground-mount solar racking category, particularly for utility-scale greenfield installations where deployment speed and structural cost per MW are key decision factors.
• GameChange Solar: GameChange Solar manufactures fixed-tilt and single-axis solar tracker racking systems for utility-scale projects. It is a direct competitor in the ground-mount solar racking market and targets similar utility and C&I customers, though its products are conventionally assembled on-site rather than prefabricated like 5B Maverick.
• PV Hardware (PVH): PV Hardware is a Spanish solar racking and tracker manufacturer serving global utility-scale markets. It is a direct peer in solar mounting structures and competes on similar dimensions (cost per MW, energy yield, wind resilience) though uses conventional assembly rather than 5B's factory-prefabricated accordion-fold model.
• FTC Solar: FTC Solar is a US-based solar tracker company offering single-axis trackers for utility-scale projects. It competes with 5B in ground-mount solar racking, primarily on deployment cost, energy yield, and reliability, though FTC Solar's technology is conventional tracker-based rather than prefabricated.
• STi Norland: STi Norland is a Spanish manufacturer of solar trackers and fixed-tilt structures for utility-scale projects globally. It is a direct competitor in the solar racking category, though it focuses on conventional tracker architectures rather than 5B's prefabricated foldable array design.
• Soltec: Soltec is a Spanish solar tracker manufacturer serving utility-scale projects across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia. It competes directly with 5B in ground-mount solar racking, focusing on single-axis tracking systems for utility developers rather than the prefabricated factory-built model.

Emerging players

• Convert Solar (Tracked Solar Solutions): Convert Solar offers innovative tracker solutions for utility-scale solar, including bifacial-optimized designs. It is an emerging player in the solar racking category with overlapping target customers (utility developers) but uses conventional tracker architectures rather than 5B's prefabricated model.
• Ideematec: Ideematec is a German solar tracker manufacturer focused on decentralized renewable energy projects. It is an emerging player competing with 5B in ground-mount solar racking, with some overlap in distributed and off-grid applications, though using conventional tracker technology.

Broad incumbents

• Valmont Industries: Valmont Industries is a diversified infrastructure products manufacturer whose solar division produces trackers and fixed-tilt racking systems. As a broad incumbent with a much larger portfolio (irrigation, utility structures, coatings), it competes with 5B in solar racking but does not specialize in prefabricated rapid-deployment designs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/5B_Tech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/5baus
• Facebookfacebook.com/5Btech

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 5B