Battery giant Sonnen ready to mark a new era at Elizabeth’s former Holden plant
GERMAN battery giant Sonnen is preparing to usher in a new era at Elizabeth’s former Holden plant, hoping to kick off manufacturing there within a month — and eventually create more than 450 jobs in SA.
- Elizabeth’s Holden site: Sonnen to create more than 450 jobs
- Government promises savings as part of its bold battery scheme
- Solar companies trying to cash in early on battery subsidy scheme
- Residents to fight Neoen’s $500m solar and wind farm
GERMAN battery giant Sonnen is preparing to usher in a new era at Elizabeth’s former Holden plant, hoping to kick off manufacturing there within a month.
Visiting Adelaide this week, chief operating officer Oliver Koch said the company had already employed up to 30 people for its new operations – and that figure would grow to about 140 at Elizabeth after it takes over a portion of the Philip Hwy site.
About 35 per cent of those would be former Holden workers, he said.
In total, the company expects to create 450 jobs through its renewable energy battery business, including work for suppliers and installers across the state, and those in IT, software development, customer service and research and development.
Being the first to move in at Elizabeth added “an extra level of excitement and purpose” to the project, Mr Koch said.
“It’s a sign of the times that you’re transitioning from something old — unfortunately petrol cars will be a thing of the past one day,” he said.
“(But) it’s not just about creating jobs and doing something new — this is an area that’s job deprived and lacks optimism.
“A lot of people at Sonnen believe that the work we’re doing is not just to make profit but we also want to change the world and changing the world is not just about energy.
“Giving something to this community is important.”
The company has leased part of the former Holden site and says setting up in Elizabeth will cost about $20 million.
Mr Koch stressed that with its diverse range of roles, the company’s new Adelaide base would become more of a tech-hub than a factory — and that was likely to be a trend among the other businesses moving there in future.
“There will be a lot of collaboration between local communities, State Government and companies to train people to develop those skills and make sure people are ready for what’s coming because what’s coming is exciting but it’s different,” he said.
“Maybe in the past that facility had 90 per cent manufacturing and 10 per cent something else and in the future it might be 30 per cent manufacturing and 70 per cent something else.”
The beginning of manufacturing would likely see batteries arriving on site preassembled with modifications required, moving towards a fuller manufacturing process over the following weeks.
The company saw SA as the ideal place to invest because of its leading role in renewable energy take-up and potential for market growth — particularly amid the State Government’s subsidised home battery installation scheme.
“Yes, we’ll do exports, but really, the market in here — that’s why we’re here,” Mr Koch said.
“SA is ground zero for this change in energy.
“We believe that there are thousands of batteries that can be installed this year.”
The government’s battery scheme aims to deliver 40,000 units in four years.
It seeks to reduce blackouts and bring down power prices, as homes with solar and batteries consume their own power while leaving more in the system for others to use.
michelle.etheridge@news.com.au