Australian manufacturing, resilient supply chains and the enormous opportunity for commercial and industrial solar and battery storage were front and centre as the Smart Energy Council visited Tindo Solar ahead of this week’s Smart Energy South Australia Conference in Adelaide.

Making the most of its time on the ground in South Australia, the Smart Energy Council visited Tindo Solar, an Essential Member of the Council and Australia’s only solar panel manufacturer, to hear firsthand about the opportunities and challenges shaping Australia’s clean energy manufacturing sector.

The visit brought together Robert Potter, Head of Policy & Advocacy, Darren Johannesen, Executive General Manager – Sustainability, and Robyn Cowie, Stewardship Program Manager, who were welcomed by Jo Hugman, General Manager of Tindo Solar, for a tour of the company’s Adelaide manufacturing facility.

As General Manager, Jo Hugman is leading Tindo Solar’s continued focus on production, quality and innovation, helping shape the next chapter of Australian-made solar. The visit provided valuable insight into the company’s operations and reinforced the critical role local manufacturing will play in delivering Australia’s clean energy future.

Australian manufacturing in action

Walking through the production facility, the Smart Energy Council team saw firsthand Tindo Solar’s commitment to quality, durability and Australian engineering.

As Australia’s only solar panel manufacturer, Tindo Solar continues to demonstrate what can be achieved through investment in local capability, skilled manufacturing jobs and advanced engineering. The visit served as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when Australia backs local innovation and manufacturing.

Supporting sovereign manufacturing capacity remains an important part of building a stronger, more resilient clean energy industry while creating economic opportunities and skilled jobs across the country.

Robert Potter said the visit highlighted both the strength of Australian manufacturing and the opportunities still ahead.

“Great to be on the ground with Tindo Solar this week; nothing beats seeing Australian manufacturing in action. The visit was a sharp reminder of how much potential we have in C&I solar and storage when we back local capability and work together across the sector.”

Unlocking the commercial and industrial opportunity

Discussions also focused on the significant untapped potential across Australia’s commercial and industrial sector.

While rooftop solar has transformed the residential market, commercial and industrial businesses represent one of the country’s greatest opportunities for expanding solar and battery storage deployment.

As businesses look for ways to reduce energy costs, improve resilience and meet sustainability goals, commercial and industrial solar and batteries will continue to play an increasingly important role in Australia’s energy transition.

Building resilient supply chains

Another key theme of the visit was the importance of strengthening Australia’s clean energy supply chains.

Domestic manufacturing not only supports Australian jobs and investment, but also strengthens supply chain resilience and reduces reliance on global markets. As the clean energy transition accelerates, building greater local manufacturing capability is not only good industrial policy—it is increasingly good risk management for Australian businesses.

These conversations continue to inform the Smart Energy Council’s advocacy as Australia works towards a more secure, reliable and locally supported clean energy future.

Darren Johannesen said the visit reinforced the importance of building Australian capability alongside long-term stewardship.

“Touring the Adelaide facility reinforced just how critical local capability is to delivering Australia’s clean energy transition. The state-of-the-art operations are highly impressive, but what is even more exciting is the circular potential. By backing local innovation and manufacturing, and eventually linking it to robust stewardship frameworks, we can secure the critical materials needed to build resilient, self-sustaining supply chains right here in Australia.”

Collaboration unlocks scale

The visit also reinforced the importance of collaboration across the smart energy sector.

Manufacturers, installers, distributors, industry bodies and policymakers all have an important role to play in accelerating Australia’s energy transition. Strong partnerships across the industry are essential to unlocking the scale needed to deliver more renewable energy, batteries and locally manufactured products to Australian homes and businesses.

Visits like these are an important part of the Smart Energy Council’s work. Spending time with members on the ground provides valuable insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the industry and helps ensure the Council’s advocacy reflects the real experiences of businesses leading Australia’s clean energy transformation.

Robyn Cowie said seeing Australian manufacturing firsthand reinforced the importance of planning for the full lifecycle of solar products.

“The Tindo operations were incredibly impressive, and it was fantastic to see Australian innovation in action firsthand. After spending so much time focused on the end of the product lifecycle with product recovery, it was amazing to see the process in reverse—watching pristine, advanced panels come to life on the factory floor. Looking ahead, a future solar panel stewardship scheme will be vital to securing the local availability of critical materials like silver and copper, keeping these resources in the loop to support a truly sustainable ‘Future Made in Australia’.”

Looking ahead to Smart Energy South Australia

The visit comes ahead of the Smart Energy South Australia Conference, where industry leaders from across the state will come together to discuss the latest developments in renewable energy, battery storage, manufacturing, electrification and the policies shaping Australia’s energy future.

Attendees will also hear from Jo Hugman, who will take the stage to share her insights on the future of Australian-made solar, local manufacturing and the opportunities ahead for the sector.

The Smart Energy Council thanks Jo Hugman and the entire Tindo Solar team for their hospitality and for the important work they continue to do in strengthening Australia’s clean energy manufacturing capability.

As an Essential Member of the Smart Energy Council, Tindo Solar continues to showcase the innovation, engineering excellence and manufacturing capability that exists right here in Australia—demonstrating what’s possible when we back local industry and work together to build a smarter, more resilient energy future.

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About the Smart Energy Council
The Smart Energy Council is Australia’s peak body for the renewable energy industry, committed to accelerating the transition to clean, affordable energy for all Australians.

Media contact: Tim Lamacraft – tim@smartenergy.org.au – 0448 972 192