Major solar manufacturing investment driving jobs in the Hunter

The Hunter is set to receive a significant boost to support solar manufacturing in the region, creating local jobs, strengthening supply chains and positioning the Hunter as Australia’s solar manufacturing powerhouse.  

A total of $171 million from the Australian and NSW  Governments will be invested to establish the Hunter Valley Solar Foundry at Black Hill, Australia’s most significant solar manufacturing project to date. The project will be funded under the federal government’s $1 billion Solar Sunshot Program. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is providing $151 million in conditional funding and the NSW state government is investing up to $20 million towards this sunny venture. 

The project is led by the Sunman Group and will deliver a 500 MW per year solar module manufacturing facility, producing up to 800,000 panels annually. For communities in the Hunter, this investment represents a major step forward in building new industries, diversifying the economy and supporting workers with long-term employment.  

Creating local jobs and new skills 

Construction of the Hunter Valley Solar Foundry is expected to generate around 200 jobs, with more than 100 ongoing positions once operational. These roles sit squarely in advanced solar manufacturing, an industry identified as a key opportunity for workers transitioning from coal, gas and legacy industries. 

Sunman is working with TAFE NSW on an advanced manufacturing training program to build local capability in solar production, robotics, automation and precision engineering. A First Nations employment pathway and a scholarship program for students pursuing clean energy fields are also being developed. These programs are helping to ensure workers in the region are supported with available training for secure employment and clear career pathways. 

As the Hunter transforms to a clean energy future, local councils, community groups and industry have consistently emphasised the need for secure jobs in net zero industries, and this initiative is demonstrating how the Hunter can prosper. 

Building clean energy economies 

The Hunter Valley Solar Foundry project signals a new phase in the Hunter’s energy resourcing. This initiative of the Sunman Group is founded by University of New South Wales alumnus Dr Zhengrong Shi, bringing his solar expertise back to local shores. Sunman already operates a 1 GW facility in China and a 500 MW plant is currently under construction in the United States, but Dr Shi has been clear about his ambition to return solar manufacturing to Australia. 

The facility will produce both Sunman’s lightweight, polymer-based eArc modules and traditional glass modules, using local materials and suppliers where possible. It will also operate as a contract manufacturing hub for other solar companies, strengthening supply chains and boosting domestic capability. 

Strengthening the Hunter’s long-term economic future 

For the Hunter, the foundry is a practical example of how new industries can take root in regions built on traditional energy. The project leverages all the essential ingredients in scaling clean energy manufacturing: 

• existing industrial land
• established workforces
• transport links
• the region’s engineering capability. 

As global energy markets shift, projects like this are giving Hunter communities confidence the region can remain a major energy and industrial centre, with high-value jobs and new opportunities for decades to come. 

To learn more about the Sunshot program, visit the ARENA website.