Australian solar technology pioneer 5B has been announced as the inaugural recipient of funding from the Australian government’s $1 billion Solar Sunshot Program, a landmark initiative aimed at expanding the nation’s solar manufacturing industry.
The company will receive up to $46 million to boost the manufacturing capacity of its innovative ‘Maverick’ system — an automated, prefabricated, and prewired solar deployment solution designed to accelerate and scale the rollout of solar farms across Australia.
The Maverick technology, developed by 5B, is engineered to drastically reduce the time, cost, and labour associated with traditional solar farm construction.
By using preassembled panels that can be rapidly deployed on site, the Maverick system enables solar farms to be built up to 10 times faster than conventional methods, while also making installation safer and more efficient.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said: “This project represents the best of homegrown Australian technology and innovation in solar and we are proud to support 5B’s goals of making solar deployment faster, cheaper, safer and more efficient.
“ARENA has a vision of reaching one terawatt of installed solar PV in Australia by 2050 to achieve our renewable energy ambitions. Projects like this are what we need to get there.
“Today represents a step towards building Australia’s resilience in the solar value chain as the global demand for renewable energy technologies, products and knowledge intensifies.”
5B CEO David Griffin said the funding would have a direct impact on the company’s ability to compete globally and support the local workforce.
“This funding would drive down 5B’s Australian production costs by 25 per cent and accelerate 5B’s ability to offer large customers lower cost energy alongside the safety, speed and land efficiencies unique to the 5B Maverick solution.
“It means we can further strengthen our team, creating opportunities from the factory floor, in our field deployment crews, and specialists working on gigawatts of solar farm designs.”
The funding will enable 5B to expand its Adelaide manufacturing facility to produce at least 200 megawatts of Maverick units over the next three years, supporting the growing demand for large-scale solar deployment across the country.
The Solar Sunshot Program, launched in March 2024, is designed to strengthen Australia’s renewable energy supply chain and position the country as a leader in solar technology innovation.
With this investment, 5B is set to play a pivotal role in Australia’s renewable energy transition, helping to make solar energy more accessible, affordable, and efficient for both industry and communities nationwide.
