Australia invests $151m to reduce solar import reliance

This will help expand the state’s supply chain capabilities.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced up to $151m in conditional funding for the establishment of a 500 megawatt per annum solar module manufacturing facility.

According to ARENA, the funding, which is under the government’s $1b Solar Sunshot Program, will support the development of the Hunter Valley Solar Foundry project.

ARENA CEO Darren Miller said this project will reduce reliance on imports and expand Australia’s role in global clean energy supply chains.

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.

This will also 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.