One of China’s biggest solar panel manufacturers may cash in on the Albanese government’s $1 billion photovoltaic subsidy program after partnering with a leading Australian solar start-up backed by billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Chinese giant Trina Solar and Sydney company SunDrive have formed a joint venture which will apply for taxpayer support for a local manufacturing hub under the Solar Sunshot program. The scheme is part of the Future Made in Australia policy that was allocated $22.7 billion in the last federal budget.