New manufacturing facility coming to the Hunter

Kardinia Energy, a Newcastle-based solar energy company, has been awarded a $2.15 million grant under the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Program to establish a new manufacturing facility in the Hunter. 

Kardinia Energy will use the Australian Government funding to grow from a university proof of concept to pilot-scale manufacturing by investing in advanced high resolution printing equipment.

Printed solar involves printing carbon-based inks on flexible plastic. These materials are abundant and do not require the energy-intensive manufacturing used to produce silicon panels, making it cheaper and more efficient to produce. 

Printed solar is fully recyclable in-house. These panels were successfully used to power concerts on Coldplay’s world tour.

Kardinia Energy’s co-founder and CEO Anthony Letmon said printed solar offers a sustainable way to generate energy where traditional panels are not practical. 

‘It enables a new way of thinking of solar energy. We’re printing sustainable energy that’s accessible to everyone,’ he said. 

‘Unlike traditional solar panels, printed solar is lightweight so it can be applied to almost any surface, like an industrial roof that can’t handle the weight of traditional solar panels.' 

The new Kardinia Energy manufacturing facility will create jobs in the Hunter region, a priority region for the Net Zero Economy Authority.

Clean energy innovation and advanced manufacturing are keys to unlocking future jobs utilising similar existing skill sets in the Hunter. New facilities also assist to diversify the Hunter economy and support the region as it moves away from coal-fired power.

For more information on printed solar and how it works, visit From sparks to high power, a Newcastle solar company transforms clean energy | nzea

To learn more about net zero in the Hunter, visit our Hunter page.