Silicon, ingots, and wafers: Massive solar supply chain projects given priority by federal government

The federal government has this month awarded major project status to two proposed solar supply chain projects that are aimed at commercialising Australian solar PV innovations and strengthening a homegrown solar PV supply chain.

The department of industry, science, and resources last week approved major project status for four new projects including Stellar PV’s Project Clean Wafers and Solquartz’s Northern Quartz Campus.

Project Clean Wafers aims to establish Australia’s first commercial-scale 2 gigawatt (GW) silicon ingot and photovoltaic (PV) wafer manufacturing facility close to Townsville, Queensland.

The facility, when operational, would use procured polysilicon to produce silicon ingots using the Czochralski method and then convert the ingots to silicon wafers.

Stellar PV completed a pre-feasibility study, backed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), finding that such a facility would strengthen domestic solar manufacturing capacity and contribute to supply-chain resilience, regional economic development, and export opportunities.

A capital investment of over $500 million will be required, but the project will create over 300 full-time jobs after a 12-month construction period and operate for between 20 to 30 years.

Similarly, the Northern Quartz Campus being developed by Private Energy Partners and Solquartz, a Queensland-based portfolio company of Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, would be Australia’s first fully integrated solar and electronic grade silicon supply chain.

Set to be built north of Manton Quarry Road near Townsville within the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct, the project actually consists of several projects including the Supernode North Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).

It will also include a biochar plant to generate biochar using timber, and a Metallurgical Silicon Production Facility that would convert Queensland-mined quartz into metallurgical silicon.

Two nearby solar farms are also set to be built to power the Northern Quartz Campus.

All told, the Northern Quartz Campus will require total capital investment of $4.5 billion but will support up to 1,2000 construction jobs and 2,000 ongoing jobs through the project’s lifespan.  

The Northern Quartz Campus was referred to the federal environment queue last month.

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