Capral Aluminium and SunDrive Solar have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the development of a supply partnership focused on advancing sustainability and developing a resilient local supply chain within Australia’s solar industry.
The partnership aims to enhance the competitiveness of domestic solar module production while significantly reducing its environmental impact.
Capral Aluminium is Australia’s largest manufacturer and distributor of aluminium products, while SunDrive Solar is at the forefront of solar cell innovation, developing advanced technologies to improve solar module efficiency and sustainability.
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With a vision to develop and advance Australia’s solar manufacturing capabilities, SunDrive aims to foster opportunities for local solar supply chain development and contribute to economic growth and diversification.
The cornerstone of this agreement is the shared intention to create a domestic supply chain that reduces dependency on international suppliers. By sourcing aluminium locally from Capral, SunDrive aims to increase the stability and reliability of its production processes, mitigating risks associated with global supply chain disruptions.
SunDrive CEO Natalie Malligan says, “Our commitment to exploring and fostering a strong, local supply chain is at the core of our vision for the future of solar manufacturing in Australia.
“The opportunity to source local and low-carbon aluminium through Capral has the potential to not only support Australian jobs and businesses but create a unique, Australian product that supports Australian jobs and enhance the resilience and sustainability of our production process.”
At the heart of this collaboration is a shared commitment to sustainability. Capral’s LocAL low-carbon aluminium, introduced in 2022, has positioned the company as an industry leader in providing sustainable, extruded aluminium products for Australian manufacturers.
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Capral’s recent partnerships with primary aluminium suppliers offering materials with a minimum of 20% recycled content further enhance its sustainability credentials. Capral has successfully trialled the use of this recycled material in its extrusion plants, presenting an exciting opportunity for SunDrive to incorporate these sustainable materials into its solar modules.
This partnership is contingent on SunDrive Solar securing support under ARENA’s Solar Sunshot program, which is critical to advancing this joint initiative. Achieving a viable and cost-competitive local supply chain will require not only project-specific support but also sustained, long-term policy coordination and investment to strengthen Australia’s manufacturing capabilities and ensure global competitiveness.
