Chinese photovoltaic company Sunman New Energy will construct a solar module production plant with an annual capacity of 500 megawatts in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia.
On December 2, the government of New South Wales, Australia, announced that photovoltaic company Sunman New Energy will build a 500-megawatt annual capacity solar module factory in the Hunter Valley region.
Notably, the project has already received AUD 151 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) through federal funding and an additional AUD 20 million investment from the New South Wales government.
This total government investment of AUD 171 million (approximately RMB 820 million) sets a record for single-project funding in Australia’s renewable energy manufacturing sector. The project will be developed in two phases, with an initial annual capacity of 300 MW, eventually expanding to 500 MW.
“This project marks a significant milestone for Australian manufacturing,” said Shi Zhengrong at the project launch. “The factory will produce Sunman’s core products, including self-developed building-adapted composite modules that replace glass with durable polymers, reducing weight by 70% and offering flexibility for diverse application scenarios.”
It is reported that the factory will also manufacture glass-based modules, establish an innovation center, and provide OEM services to strengthen Australia’s local photovoltaic supply chain. Founded by Shi Zhengrong in Shanghai in October 2014, Sunman will leverage its technology to supply products to both Australian and international markets through this new facility.
“Once completed, the Hunter Valley solar module plant will become Australia’s largest solar photovoltaic module manufacturing facility and the only one of its kind in New South Wales,” Shi Zhengrong added.
In August this year, Energus, a subsidiary of Sunman, announced plans to use AUD 1.3 million in funding obtained through the “Solar Energy Program” to build a 50,000-ton annual capacity solar polysilicon factory in the Hunter Valley.
