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Opening of Australia’s solar manufacturing
State Minister opens Silex’s facility in Sydney
Minister for State and Regional Development, Ian Macdonald today officially opened the $30million Silex Solar’s solar panel manufacturing plant at Sydney Olympic Park - the biggest plant of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The NSW Government was instrumental in Silex Solar’s decision to purchase the plant - ensuring it retained its important presence in Sydney.
Industry and Investment NSW secured the decision through financial assistance in the form of partial tax rebates conditional upon employment milestones. The details of this agreement are confidential. The Sydney Olympic Park facility is the largest photovoltaic manufacturing plant in the Southern Hemisphere.
The manufacturing plant was commissioned in 2000 and has undergone numerous expansions and upgrades to keep it in line with the latest solar production techniques. Silex Solar has taken over the operations of the Homebush site from BP Solar, ensuring the ongoing operation of an important NSW manufacturing facility. In addition to the manufacturing capabilities, the Homebush site is home to Research and development facilities, Testing facilities, Engineering workshops, A purpose-built warehouse to cater for raw and finished goods andSales and administration offices.
Silex Solar is the only significant Australian-owned manufacturer of solar cells and panels. It is expected to double its workforce to around 100 people by the end of 2010. “Green energy is the way of the future, that’s why the NSW Government has supported Silex Solar to base its operations here in Sydney,” Mr Macdonald said. “Solar power will become an increasingly important industry - the NSW Government is helping secure this for the State’s future.”
Silex Solar will use Homebush as its base for the commercial scale manufacture of high performance solar cells and modules at the lowest possible cost. The panels made by Silex Solar are suitable for both residential and commercial use – being affordable for families through to large companies. Sales have already begun in Australia, and Silex are confident of their prospects for export of solar cells from Homebush from Asia and America.
Mr Macdonald said the NSW Government supports development and growth of the solar industry with its Solar Bonus Scheme delivering the most effective rebates in Australia. NSW has adopted a ‘Gross Feed-in Tariff’ which means households are paid 60 cents for every kilowatt hour of renewable energy they generate. Under the scheme, an average household with a 1.5 kilowatt solar system will earn around $1500 a year in NSW.
“NSW households and small businesses with solar panels now receive higher payments for the clean energy they generate than anywhere else in Australia,” Mr Macdonald said. “The Solar Energy industry creates employment opportunities and further development of our renewable energy sector.
Silex has expertise across a range of disciplines, including cell and module research and development, large scale PV commercial fabrication, project sales and marketing. Mr Macdonald said Silex Solar is well placed to develop and commercialise Australian intellectual property in solar technology.
“Silex Solar recently purchased the assets of Solar Systems Limited, a Victorian-based company that developed utility-scale solar power technology,” Mr Macdonald said. “This again helped ensure the retention of Australian solar technology and Silex Solar has already developed a strong partnership with the University of NSW.
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