5B

“Playing catch-up:” Sunshot targets cheaper construction in quest for ultra-low cost solar

Arena opens a third Solar Sunshot round aimed at cutting utility-scale solar construction costs, while recapping grants already handed to 5B, Tindo Solar, Solquartz, Stellar PV, Luminous Robotics and Built Robotics' local subsidiary.

Also ARENA·ARENA·RenewEconomy·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·@AuManufacturing·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy

Australia moves closer to ultra low-cost solar future

ARENA's white paper update finds ultra low-cost solar is achievable but delivery speed and scale of big projects is now the main risk, highlighting supported work by 5B, Built Robotics, Nextpower and Luminous Robotics.

MGA Thermal appoints ex-Shell Energy executive as CCO to accelerate industrial decarbonisation

Thermal storage company MGA Thermal hires a former Shell Energy Australia executive as its commercial chief, with the appointment underpinned by a $17 million raise made earlier in the year.

ARENA announces $45 million for Pilbara Solar Innovation Hub

The renewable energy agency has committed as much as $45m to Fortescue's Pilbara solar testing hub, where demonstration projects with Built Robotics and 5B will trial construction robotics and rapid-deployment solar technology.

Also RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy

From 0 to 4.5 billion: how the Startmate pay-it-forward mentorship model built a startup powerhouse

Startmate reflects on a decade of backing founders, profiling breakout alumni across its cohorts and describing how its mentors reinvest in newer startups, alongside its fund model and returns.

Australia offers another $150 million in Solar Sunshot plan to build local PV supply chain

Canberra will open a second $150 million Solar Sunshot round for PV component makers, while recapping earlier awards to 5B, Tindo Solar, Stellar PV, Solquartz and Energus.

Also RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, July 14 – 18, 2025

Weekly roundup of readers' five favourite stories: a precast factory opening for a Sydney tunnel, a grants panel, Circuitwise's agreed New Zealand acquisition, NSW clean-tech grants, and BlueScope's Whyalla bid position.

Homegrown pioneer first project funded for Solar Sunshot

ARENA has named solar maker 5B the first recipient of funding under its Solar Sunshot program, with a grant of as much as $46 million to expand Adelaide output of its Maverick system.

Also RenewEconomy·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy

“Time to come back:” Sunman unveils plans to make flexible solar panels in Australia

Solar pioneer Zhengrong Shi intends a Newcastle factory for frameless lightweight panels via Sunman's Energus subsidiary, eyeing federal programs; CEFC, Southern Cross Venture Partners and Softbank China are recalled as backers.

Startmate’s top 20 most valuable investments

A profile of Startmate ranking the twenty most valuable companies it has backed, noting their valuations, past raises and founders, plus Bugcrowd's newly announced purchase of Informer and its climate focus.

Battery testing underway for Tiwi Islands solar and storage project

Battery testing has begun in Darwin for the Bathurst Island solar-plus-storage pilot, built using 5B technology after a Northern Territory government funding announcement, with completion expected by May.

Grid Connections: Who’s going where in Australia’s energy transition

A rolling roundup of Australian energy-sector job moves, listing dozens of executives, directors and ministers joining or leaving utilities, regulators, developers and industry bodies between May and December 2023.

Former Sun Cable CEO David Griffin takes up reins at solar innovator 5B

5B, a New South Wales solar technology firm, has hired Sun Cable's co-founder and ex-CEO David Griffin as its new chief executive, succeeding co-founder Chris McGrath.

5B begins construction of solar PV pilot production line

Solar manufacturer 5B has started building its automated pilot production line in Mascot, NSW, with support from an ARENA grant; the company counts Turnbull, Holmes à Court and BP among its backers.

FUNDED December 2022

Techboard's monthly roundup catalogues December 2022 startup raises, led by Synchron's $110m Series C, with health and biotech taking the largest share and 55 funding events captured totalling $546m.

Six startup funding deals you might have missed

A year-end roundup listing six recent startup raises, giving amounts, lead investors and co-investors for Tic:Toc, 5B, Syenta, Vively, Aerotruth and Potiki, plus each company's stated plans for the money.

Oil giant bp invests $20M AUD in Australian startup 5B to install solar farms quickly

Australian solar startup 5B secured $20 million from bp ventures within its $55 million Series B, funding technology development, a North American manufacturing hub, and international expansion.

Also @AuManufacturing·RenewEconomy·Startup Daily·SmartCompany

Avarni is building a comprehensive dataset to analyze supply chain emissions

Sydney carbon accounting startup Avarni raised $3 million led by Main Sequence, with returning backers Vulpes Ventures and Common Sense Ventures, to grow its supply chain emissions platform and expand into the US.

Also Australian FinTech·insidesmallbusiness.com.au·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·avarni.co·Australian FinTech·TechCrunch Venture

FUNDED JUNE 2022

Techboard's monthly roundup logs June 2022 Australian funding events, including GO1's Series E, Edrolo's Series B, two acquisitions, several new funds reaching closes, and accelerator intake announcements.

Also Techboard

News briefs – stories you might have missed

Roundup covering Victorian zero-emission bus trials, Frew Foods' planned plant expansion, 5B's layoffs and completed capital raise, Wellnex Life's convertible note raising, SafetyCulture investing in Inauro, plus wind farm and university research news.

Also @AuManufacturing·Techboard

Solar tech 5B raises $30m, but slashes staff to ride out global supply crunch

Australian solar firm 5B completed a Series B round and is cutting staff while refocusing on its Maverick deployment technology amid supply chain pressures.

Also @AuManufacturing

“Earth mount” solar company joins race to ultra-low cost PV

US solar startup Erthos closed a $US17.5 million Series B led by Capricorn's Technology Impact Fund to scale its low-cost earth-mounted solar system, building on $7.4 million raised in 2019.

5B targets solar farm building robots in $33m push to ultra low cost PV

Solar technology company 5B has launched an automation program backed by a government agency grant, aiming to cut the cost of its deployable solar systems, and recently bought a solar manufacturing business.

Also @AuManufacturing

Aussie solar start up 5B feels the need for speed

The renewable energy agency announces a $14 million grant to Sydney solar company 5B to automate manufacturing of its Maverick utility-scale solar array, within a larger $33.4 million project at its Mascot headquarters.

Also RenewEconomy·@AuManufacturing

Australia’s breakthrough solar tech has eye on rooftop and mega-project markets

Profile of SunDrive, the Sydney solar startup whose copper-based cells set a world efficiency record, covering its founders, backers including Grok Ventures, Blackbird and ARENA, and plans for rooftop then large-scale markets.

Former PM Turnbull backs 5B's modular solar expansion

Solar technology company 5B has closed an oversubscribed funding round, drawing fresh backing from Malcolm Turnbull and Simon Holmes a Court alongside existing investors, to speed product development and enter overseas markets.

Also RenewEconomy·@AuManufacturing·RenewEconomy

Year in Reflection: 2020

Blackbird's year-end review covers its fourth fund announcement, investments in companies including See-Mode, Morse Micro and SafetyCulture, Startmate's climate cohort intakes, Mike Cannon-Brookes joining its board, and numerous team hires.

Also Blackbird Ventures portfolio·TechCrunch Venture·TechCrunch Venture·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Women's Agenda·Startup News (WA)·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Women's Agenda·Startup Daily

US energy giant takes stake in Australia's 5B solar innovator looking to supply world's biggest project

US energy company AES has anchored 5B's US$8.6 million funding round. The Sydney solar startup's technology is earmarked for the Sun Cable project, with first deployments planned in Panama and Chile.

Also RenewEconomy