Government backs Adelaide solar manufacturer with $46 million to power renewable future

The Albanese Government is putting its money where its mouth is on renewable energy manufacturing, announcing $46 million in funding for Adelaide-based solar company 5B to ramp up production of its innovative Maverick solar units.

The funding, delivered through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of the government's $1 billion Solar Sunshot program, will help 5B scale up production at its Adelaide facility to generate enough solar capacity to power over 40,000 homes across three years.

What makes 5B's technology special? Their Maverick system features prefabricated solar panels that fold like an accordion into shipping containers, allowing deployment up to 10 times faster than traditional installations and at significantly lower costs. It's solar energy meets origami engineering.

“When it comes to powering Australia's future nothing will beat our sun and our solar knowhow,” said Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen.

“That's why bringing solar manufacturing to our shores is so critical for unlocking our future as a renewable energy superpower and securing the job of the future.”

The $46 million package combines a production credit of up to $26 million based on 5B's Australian-made solar units deployed domestically, plus a $20 million capital grant for technology improvements to their solar photovoltaic deployment system.

The investment will support over 50 jobs spanning from assembly line workers to specialist solar engineers, contributing to South Australia's manufacturing sector while addressing a glaring gap in Australia's renewable energy supply chain.

Despite being a global solar innovation leader, Australia currently manufactures just a fraction of the solar panels it uses. “As demand for solar surges, homegrown technologies like 5B Maverick help us make solar supply chains stronger and build Australia's future right here,” Bowen noted.

The funding builds on previous ARENA support to automate 5B's manufacturing processes, representing a concrete step toward the government's “Future Made in Australia” manufacturing agenda.

Picture: credit DCCEEW media release