Black Hill solar plant promised 300-plus jobs in $171m Hunter investment

newy.com.au – The Albanese and Minns governments have unveiled a $171 million co-investment, announced on 2 December 2025, to build the Hunter Valley Solar Foundry at Black Hill in the Hunter and create more than 300 jobs.

The large-scale solar panel manufacturing plant is being promoted as a way to bring more of Australia’s solar supply chain onshore, reduce reliance on imported panels and position the Hunter as a centre of clean-energy manufacturing, rather than relying on overseas factories for most of New South Wales’ solar modules.

According to a joint federal–state statement, the Hunter Valley Solar Foundry is an initiative of renewable technology company Sunman Group and will receive support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to build a new solar module manufacturing facility in the Hunter Valley.

The plant is planned to manufacture Sunman Energy’s lightweight enhanced Architecture ready Composite (eArc) solar modules for both local and export markets, and also aims to produce glass solar modules using local materials and suppliers, with capacity to undertake production for other manufacturers.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery said Sunman’s eArc panels were around 70% lighter than conventional solar panels and could be installed on curved surfaces, making them suitable for warehouses, industrial rooftops, trains and boats.

She said the technology had already proven itself on the roof of Sydney’s Maritime Museum and would be “incredibly useful for a range of different applications”.

Hornery said the Minns Government would contribute $20 million to the new facility, which is expected to provide 200 jobs in construction and between 100 and 140 ongoing roles manufacturing the eArc modules for domestic use and export, while the joint media release estimated around 200 construction jobs and more than 100 ongoing positions once the plant is at full capacity.

NSW Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley said the $171 million co-investment would “bring large-scale solar manufacturing to Black Hill, creating over 300 local jobs and securing the Hunter’s place at the heart of Australia’s clean-energy future”.

“This is what happens when we back innovation and back the Hunter: good jobs, new skills and long-term economic growth for our communities,” she said.

Federal Paterson MP Meryl Swanson said the Hunter had “powered our regions and our nation” for decades and that the new plant meant the community was now “leading the next chapter” in the shift to renewables.

“The Hunter Valley Solar Foundry will be a large-scale solar manufacturing hub, located in Black Hill,” Swanson said, adding that the local community was “shaping the future”.

Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said bringing more solar manufacturing back to Australia was critical to turning local solar research into industrial strength, creating jobs and making the country less exposed to global supply-chain shocks.

The governments say they are exploring an advanced manufacturing training program with TAFE NSW, along with a First Nations recruitment strategy and scholarship program to build a skilled local workforce for the new plant.