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Australia’s largest extruder and distributor of aluminium products, Capral (ASX: CAA) has secured a supply deal with Tindo Solar that puts it in pole position to support the Adelaide-based solar panel manufacturer’s ambitious plans for a $100 million Gigafactory.
The partnership initially benefits Tindo as it scales its production of solar panels to meet demand via an expansion of its Adelaide facility, with the supply deal said to signal a shift by Tindo towards prioritising local suppliers in the renewable energy sector.
Tindo currently operates a 150-megawatt manufacturing facility at Mawson Lakes in Adelaide and earlier this year announced plans for a facility capable of producing at least 1-gigawatt of premium quality panels per annum – the scale at which the manufacturer says is needed to “catalyse a domestic downstream supply chain”.
While the location of the Gigafactory has yet to be identified, Tindo is currently scoping potential sites in NSW, Queensland and Victoria.
Tindo also announced in May that it was negotiating with local manufacturers of glass, aluminium, solar cells and other components to support the new Gigafactory factory.
The proposed $100 million facility will create 250 jobs and be capable of producing 7,000 panels per day, which represents almost a third of the 22,000 panels that are estimated to require being installed every day to meet Australia’s 2030 net zero targets.
The Gigafactory is being supported by the federal government’s Solar Sunshot program which has allocated $1 billion for the solar PV manufacturing sector over the next decade.
Capral operates six aluminium manufacturing plants nationally and is recognised for its capabilities as a supplier of “LocAL” lower carbon aluminium.
The aluminium group says the partnership with Tindo aligns with its commitment to sustainability and the support of Australian manufacturing.
"Capral's collaboration with Tindo is a testament to the strength of Australian manufacturing,” says Luke Hawkins, Capral's divisional general manager of industrial and supply chain.
“While our initial focus is on meeting Tindo's current production needs, we are particularly excited about supporting their future Gigafactory with locally extruded aluminium.
“This venture is more than just a significant step for Tindo; it represents a milestone for the entire Australian manufacturing sector, showcasing our potential to lead in sustainable energy solutions and build a more resilient local supply chain."
Tindo has revealed it also may leverage its existing international customer base to supply offshore markets with high quality solar panels from the Gigafactory.
But Tindo Solar's CEO Richard Petterson says domestic collaboration is key to its vision for the local industry.
"We are committed to integrating Australian-made components into our solar panels, and Capral Aluminium is a vital partner in this effort,” says Petterson.
“The development of our Gigafactory, supported by Capral, will not only advance our production capabilities but also bolster the Australian renewables supply chain.
“This partnership underscores the potential of local industry to thrive with the right support and signals from government initiatives like the Solar Sunshot program."
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