Tindo Solar celebrates solar panel export milestone

Tindo Solar, Australia’s only manufacturer of solar panels, is celebrating five years of exporting to Vietnam with another successful shipment delivered in the first quarter of 2024.

Richard Petterson, Tindo CEO, made the export announcement during an address at the Australia-Vietnam Green Economy Summit, which is led by Asialink and Climateworks Centre and supported by the Australian Government. The summit is dedicated to fostering sustainable development, job creation, growth and the transition to renewable resources and net zero emissions.

Tindo has a strong relationship with customers in Vietnam and has been fulfilling orders since 2019 as the Southeast Asian nation pursues a policy of energy independence. The exports demonstrate the demand for high-quality panels across the region.

Tindo has been making solar panels in Adelaide since 2011, where it has the capacity to produce 360,000 panels annually, the equivalent of 150 MW, at its manufacturing site. However, the company has ambitious plans to construct a $100 million factory that could increase its output by 1 GW per year, with a significant proportion of that capacity earmarked for exports to neighbouring countries hungry to diversify their renewables supply chains.

“It is wonderful to be in Vietnam, where we continue to build our export markets and ensure Australian Made products play a role in our region’s energy transition,” Petterson said. “As well as supporting Vietnam, this brings export revenue back to Australia, supporting jobs and economic growth.

“Our experts show that there are global markets for Australian-made panels, and with short-term government support to scale, we are confident we can expand our manufacturing footprint. In doing so, we can reduce our cost of production and provide panels to even more customers at home and overseas, and ensure Australia enjoys more of the economic benefits of the energy transition.”

“The growing partnership between Australia and Vietnam, coupled with Vietnam’s roadmap for energy transition, presents a window of opportunity for Australian businesses,” said Leigh Howard, CEO of Asialink Business. “I strongly encourage businesses to build their understanding of Vietnam’s current market landscape so they are equipped to seize the opportunities on offer.”