“Solar Made in Australia: How Townsville’s New Solar Hub Is Powering Our Future”

Introduction

G’day mates! It’s been a corker of a week in the land of sun and sea: Australia is stepping up its green energy game with a brand-new 2 GW solar ingot and wafer manufacturing facility set for Townsville by 2028. Backed by the Solar Sunshot program and ARENA, this project is not just about producing silicon—it’s about creating jobs, fortifying our supply chains, and building trust in truly Aussie solar panels.

1. Shining a Light on Townsville’s Solar Boom

Located at the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct—just 40 km south of Townsville—the Stellar PV Project is gearing up to build a 2 GW silicon ingot and wafering facility by 2028. Producing high-purity silicon wafers (the brains behind high-efficiency solar cells), it's a major move to slash Australia’s reliance on imported solar components and anchor a local renewable manufacturing boom.

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Australian Renewable Energy Agency

It’s not just a sunny dream: ARENA has already pledged AU$4.7 million towards feasibility and engineering through the Solar Sunshot program.

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Australian Renewable Energy Agency

2. Why “Made-in-Australia” Solar Panels Matter

Australia imports over 90% of its solar panels—making us vulnerable to supply chain shocks.

Wikipedia But with Stellar PV’s facility, we get:

Supply chain resilience – less reliance on overseas supply, more Aussie control.

Sustainability – powered by renewables, with efficient recycling built in.

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Community trust – knowing your panels were made right here builds confidence and pride.

Job creation – more than 450 jobs are anticipated: 150 during construction and over 300 in ongoing operations.

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3. Backdrop: “Future Made in Australia” & Solar Sunshot

These developments aren’t happening in a vacuum. Both the $1 billion Solar Sunshot and the broader “Future Made in Australia” policy are propelling homegrown green manufacturing. Under this industrial policy, the federal government has committed a massive A$22.7 billion over the coming decade to domestic green hydrogen, solar-panel manufacturing, and critical minerals.

Solar Sunshot allocated $550 million in its Round 1A/B alone—$500 million for manufacturing and $50 million for feasibility and engineering studies like Stellar PV’s.

Prime Minister of Australia

Australian Renewable Energy AgencyNexapower

4. What This Means for NexaPower and Our Customers

As NexaPower, here’s how we get to ride this sunny wave:

Strengthen local supply chains – easier access to Aussie-made wafers for panel assembly.

Market advantage – “Made in Australia” panels resonate with local consumers who value sustainability and supply certainty.

Boost innovation – being close to technologies and talent emerging from Townsville means we can innovate faster.

Community connection – supporting Aussie manufacturing aligns perfectly with our brand values of trust and local impact.

From sun to wafer to rooftop – Aussie innovation is keeping our solar bright and our supply chain tight. Stay tuned, NexaPower family—Townsville is where next-gen solar gets real!

About NexaPower Manufacturing

Australian Renewable Energy Agency info on Stellar PV study

Australian Renewable Energy Agency