SunDrive Partners with Trina Solar to Develop Solar Panels 

Australia’s SunDrive Solar has partnered with Chinese photovoltaic manufacturer Trina Solar to develop advanced manufacturing facilities and bring Australian-made solar panels to market at scale.

Partnership to Launch Australian-Made Solar Panel Facility

Formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), this partnership aims to bolster Australia’s domestic solar manufacturing and improve its ability to compete locally and globally.

By combining Trina Solar’s manufacturing expertise and n-type technology with SunDrive’s copper metallization technology, the joint venture plans to produce Australian-made solar panels for residential and commercial rooftops. The proposed facility is expected to create over 300 jobs, strengthen the local supply chain, and expand the market share of Australian-made solar panels.

“We founded SunDrive with the vision of developing and deploying the world’s best solar technology right here in Australia for Australian homes and businesses. Together, we’re combining home-grown innovation with experience to scale Australian-made solar panels that will drive the future of Australia’s clean energy transition,” said Vince Allen, co-founder and chief technology officer of SunDrive Solar.

SunDrive Seeks ARENA Funding for Solar Production Expansion

SunDrive plans to seek funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA) Solar Sunshot program to support the venture. These funds would go toward solar module production and feasibility studies for expanding the solar manufacturing value chain at the AGL Hunter Energy Hub site. The timing and scale of production will ultimately depend on the outcome of the funding application.

“Collaborating with Trina Solar was an easy decision for us. SunDrive and Trina Solar have established technology collaborations since 2019. Trina Solar has an outstanding reputation in the Australian market. Along with their decades of experience in global solar manufacturing, Trina Solar is the ideal choice to work with SunDrive to bring Australian-made solar panels to market at scale,” said David Hu, SunDrive co-founder.

AU$550 Million Initiative Launched for Solar PV Innovation

The initiative officially launched on August 31 with its first of two funding rounds, offering a total of AU$550 million. Round 1A, with an allocation of AU$500 million, aims to support innovation in solar panel manufacturing—specifically targeting modules, their component inputs, and deployment systems.

The initiative is not intended to compete with China but rather to offer additional support for the global energy transition.

“The programme’s aim is not to produce solar panels that are much cheaper than China; it’s just not realistic. We don’t expect that we will supply all of our products. We’re still hoping for and expecting that the current good trading relationship with China can continue indefinitely,” said Darren Miller, ARENA CEO.

“This provides an excellent opportunity for Australian solar engineers in training to work in commercial scale roles and learn on the job. This makes an investment in Australian advanced manufacturing and robotics a realistic and achievable proposition, and it leverages the global value of the SunDrive solar cell technology. It’s a win for Australian manufacturing, for reskilling our workforce, for accelerating our domestic supply chains, for building Australia-China relations, and for its alignment with climate science,” said Tim Buckley, Energy Analyst.

This collaboration between SunDrive and Trina Solar highlights the ongoing partnership between Australia and China, reinforcing their shared commitment to advancing the global energy transition.