Strategic report
Governance
Financial statements
32 OCU Group Annual report and financial statements 2026
Operational review continued
Australia and New Zealand
One connected regional platform.
FY26 marked the first year in which OCU Group operated an established delivery platform across Australia and New Zealand. The strategic rationale is aligned with the same long-duration forces shaping the Group’s UK markets: electrification, the replacement of ageing generation and network assets, new renewable capacity, storage, grid reinforcement and the infrastructure required for energy-intensive industrial and digital loads. These conditions are creating sustained demand for contractors capable of combining local delivery with specialist engineering and disciplined project control. OCU entered the market through the acquisition of All Energy Contracting (AEC) in July 2025 and added Pilecom and Bam Bam in December 2025. AEC brought renewable construction and high‑voltage connection capability across solar, wind, battery storage and power infrastructure. Pilecom added the full mechanical lifecycle of utility-scale solar installation, while Bam Bam added specialist foundations and geotechnical engineering. Together, the businesses created a platform capable of co‑ordinating below‑ground works, mechanical installations, electrical balance‑of‑plant, and grid connections through a single regional structure. “The Australia and New Zealand region represents a long-term growth market for OCU. Our focus is on building strong foundations, integrating capability across the platform and scaling in a disciplined way that supports both our people and our clients.”
In June 2026, after the year end, Volta was also acquired, adding critical development and advisory capabilities across complex grid connections, systems integration, commissioning, and specialist project delivery. The operating progression is as important as the transaction sequence. The founders and management teams of the acquired businesses have been retained, preserving local relationships and delivery knowledge while the Group introduced regional leadership, common governance and broader support. Acquired management teams have been supplemented through the recruitment of a number of OCU – ANZ executives. A new headquarters in Hamilton, Brisbane was established as a central hub for collaboration across the platform. Delivery remained the foundation for that development. Throughout 2025, AEC completed 17 utility-scale projects spanning solar, wind, battery storage, and extra‑high‑voltage connections, representing more than 2 GW of renewable energy delivery. During FY26, that operating base was complemented by Pilecom’s mechanical solar expertise and Bam Bam’s foundation capability, with the first visible benefits of cross-business delivery emerging on live projects. The market outlook supports the direction while reinforcing the need for selectivity. OCU estimates that the Australian serviceable addressable market across generation, storage, transmission and distribution will grow from approximately A$6.5bn in FY25 to approximately A$12.3bn by FY31, an 11% compound annual growth rate.
Michael Hughes Chief Executive Officer, OCU Group
Powered by FlippingBook