The return of domestic solar manufacturing to Australia

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced up to $151 million in conditional funding under the Australian Government’s $1 billion Solar Sunshot Program for the establishment of a 500 MW per annum solar module manufacturing facility in the Hunter Valley, NSW.

The funding will support the development of the Hunter Valley Solar Foundry project, an initiative of the Sunman Group (Sunman) founded by solar pioneer and UNSW alumnus Dr Zhengrong Shi. The project will develop a new advanced manufacturing facility while drawing on Sunman’s pioneering technology and track-record as a lightweight solar innovator.

ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the project is a clear demonstration of Solar Sunshot’s mission to advance solar manufacturing in Australia, reduce reliance on imports and expand Australia’s role in global clean energy supply chains.

“Deployment of solar photovoltaics at scale is central to meeting our long-term emissions goals,” he said. “Building our manufacturing capabilities will help ensure that our supply chains are resilient and Australian innovations are supported as we accelerate the rollout of solar PV.

“Solar Sunshot is about building on Australia’s world-leading solar research to expand manufacturing capacity, strengthen supply-chain resilience and grow local jobs and skills. The Hunter Valley Solar Foundry project reflects these goals, bringing together advanced technology, local workforce development and long-term economic benefits for regional communities.”

The proposed facility aims to produce a range of solar PV modules for use in domestic and international markets, including Sunman’s proprietary enhanced Architecture Ready Composite (eArc) modules, which replace traditional glass with durable polymers, making them up to 70% lighter, easier to transport and faster to install. Beyond manufacturing eArc modules, the facility aims to produce glass modules, develop a solar innovation hub to support the commercialisation of new solar technologies and operate as a solar manufacturing foundry with the ability to provide production capacity to original equipment manufacturers, further strengthening Australia’s domestic solar supply chain.

This project also marks a homecoming for Shi, who began his pioneering solar research in Australia before global ambitions took him abroad to scale-up solar manufacturing. With Solar Sunshot backing, this new facility will bring world-leading solar expertise back to Australian shores, reaffirming Australia’s strength in solar innovation and positioning Australian-made technology to contribute to the global energy transition.

“I am proud to establish the Hunter Valley Solar Foundry and bring commercial-scale renewable manufacturing to Australia,” Shi said. “Once established, the Hunter Valley Solar Foundry will be the largest manufacturer of solar photovoltaic modules in Australia, and the only one in NSW, delivering world-leading products to residential, commercial and utility customers around the country.

“As a proud Australian and a solar expert trained at the University of NSW, it has been my long-held ambition to establish solar module manufacturing in Australia, and it is my hope that over time the Foundry supports the foundation of a vertically-integrated solar supply chain in Australia. This is an important milestone in Australia’s energy transition.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Thurtell