Image: SunDrive
Australian solar innovator SunDrive has signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA)with China-based Maxwell Technologies, the world’s largest supplier of heterojunction (HJT) solar cell production equipment, and Jiangsu Vistar Equipment Technology, a specialist in solar manufacturing automation and wet processing. The collaboration aims to co-develop and commercialize copper plating tools for high-efficiency HJT solar cells at industrial scale.
The agreement marks a significant step forward in SunDrive’s mission to revolutionize photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing by replacing silver with copper for cell metallization—a shift that could lower solar installation costs by 20–30%, according to the company.
From Australian Innovation to Global Impact
Sydney-headquartered SunDrive gained global attention in 2022 after setting a world-record conversion efficiency of 26.41% for a full-size silicon HJT solar cell using copper metallization. Unlike silver, copper is more abundant, affordable, and sustainable—making it a promising material for the future of solar manufacturing.
“While our focus remains on technology development, our strategy has always been to partner with world-leading manufacturers to scale our innovation,” said Natalie Malligan, CEO of SunDrive. “This partnership is a strong validation of that model, and a key step toward commercial deployment.”
Strategic Synergies with China’s Equipment Leaders
China plays a central role in global PV manufacturing, and this partnership leverages the strengths of two leading Chinese firms:
· Maxwell Technologies supplies over 80% of global HJT production equipment and counts industry giants such as Trina Solar, Tongwei, JA Solar, Longi, and Jinko among its clients.
· Jiangsu Vistar specializes in wet chemical processing and equipment automation, catering to the needs of next-generation solar technologies.
Zhou Jian, Chairman of Maxwell, emphasized the strategic importance of the collaboration: “We aim to deepen joint R&D in copper plating, drive new breakthroughs in cell efficiency and manufacturability, and help usher in the 780 W+ HJT era.”
Aligning with Australia's Renewable Vision
The JDA follows a series of strategic moves by SunDrive to localize solar manufacturing in Australia. The company previously signed an MoU with Trinasolar to explore domestic module production and is working with AGL Energy to assess the feasibility of a solar panel factory at the former Liddell coal power station site in New South Wales.
“This is about taking Australian solar innovation to the global stage,” said Malligan. “With Maxwell and Vistar’s expertise and market access, we’re now positioned to scale quickly and bring copper-based HJT production closer to commercial reality.”
Addressing Material Constraints in Solar Manufacturing
In a joint statement, the three companies noted that the transition from silver to copper is critical for the long-term sustainability of solar manufacturing. “As silver prices rise and supply chains tighten, copper offers a scalable and cost-effective alternative. This collaboration helps future-proof HJT technology by addressing one of its most pressing material bottlenecks.”
