Australia’s only solar panel manufacturer, Tindo Solar, is about to get a serious upgrade—thanks to a hefty $45.5 million funding package from the Federal Government’s $1 billion Solar Sunshot Program. It’s all part of a broader push to bolster local manufacturing and move us closer to our clean energy goals.
Supercharging Local Solar
$34.5 million of that funding is headed to Tindo to help scale up its factory at Mawson Lakes in South Australia. The plan? Ramp up production from 20 megawatts a year to a whopping 180 megawatts. That includes rolling out advanced automation tech, expanding into premium N-type solar modules, and prepping for something even bigger—a potential gigafactory capable of churning out 1 gigawatt worth of panels annually.
ARENA’s CEO, Darren Miller, made it clear this isn’t just a shiny upgrade—it’s a strategic investment.
“As the only homegrown solar module manufacturer, Tindo brings unmatched local expertise to the table,” Miller said.
He pointed out that Tindo's deep roots in the local labour market and manufacturing know-how make it uniquely placed to help Australia meet its 2050 net-zero targets.
Jobs, Skills and Solar Smarts
The Mawson Lakes upgrade is tipped to generate over 50 new direct jobs, with flow-on benefits to nearby suppliers. Tindo’s also rolling out a recruitment and training program to make sure the workforce is ready for the specialised needs of solar manufacturing.
If their gigafactory plans go ahead, we could be looking at another 230 jobs—half of those in hands-on solar PV manufacturing roles.
Tindo CEO Richard Petterson called the funding a smart way to sustainably scale up Aussie solar.
“That means lower prices, broader market reach, and maintaining the high-quality Australian-made panels we’re known for.”
What About the Rest of the Industry?
Alongside Tindo, another $11 million has been earmarked for feasibility studies aimed at ramping up local production of polysilicon, ingots and wafers—the guts of solar panels.
Here’s where that’s going:
- Solquartz gets $5 million for its plan to build a low-emissions, solar-grade polysilicon plant near Townsville.
- Energus scores $1.3 million for a similar study at AGL’s Hunter Energy Hub.
- Stellar PV receives $4.7 million for a study into a 2 GW ingot and wafer facility also near Townsville.
These studies are crucial. Australia is blessed with raw materials, and if we can turn those into components onshore, we’re not just strengthening energy independence—we’re creating new opportunities in clean energy manufacturing.
A Bit About Tindo: Local, Tough and Proven
If you want Aussie-made solar panels, Tindo Solar is the only game in town. While it’s a relatively small operation and may never become a “tier one” manufacturer by global standards, the company’s been around since 2011 and weathered some serious competition.
Their panels are known for reliability and quality, and they've doubled down on producing gear built for our tough Aussie conditions.
In 2022, Tindo opened a new purpose-built factory next to its original Adelaide facility. This new setup more than doubled their production capacity and became home to the Australian Centre for Excellence in Photovoltaics (ACEPV)—a hub for industry and research collaboration aimed at pushing solar innovation forward.
Founded by Adrian Ferraretto, Richard Inwood, and Ben Kerry, and now under the leadership of Glenn Morelli, Tindo has always been proud of its Aussie roots. Back in 2014, they even launched an anti-dumping case against Chinese solar imports. It didn’t succeed, but it showed just how committed they were to protecting local manufacturing—even if it meant taking on the global heavyweights.
Today, Tindo employs around 70 people across engineering, QA, installations and more. They’ve built a reputation for solar panels that go the distance and a company culture that’s all about innovation, sustainability, and quality.
Want to know more about the Solar Sunshot Program?
Head over to ARENA’s page: https://arena.gov.au/funding/solar-sunshot/
Article adapted from: ARENA - $45.5 million to supercharge Australian solar manufacturing
With additional information from: TindoSolar and SolarQuotes
