ARENA commits over $100m on low-cost solar

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is funding up to $105.6 million for 20 research and development projects to support ultra low-cost solar development, reducing the cost of designing, building, operating and maintaining large-scale solar farms.

The projects are being supported across 'cells and modules' and 'balance of systems and operation and maintenance', as well as focus areas of increasing efficiency; reducing cost; improving stability; and supporting of levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) reduction or innovation to increase yield.

The investment builds on ARENA's ultra low-cost solar ambition to help reduce installed solar costs to 30 cents per watt by 2030 to drive down the costs of solar-generated electricity, ARENA said.

The funding represents ARENA's largest single investment in solar photovoltaic (PV) research, as ARENA acting chief executive Chris Faris said the projects would help ensure Australia remained at the forefront of solar innovation.

"Australia has played a leading role in the development of solar technology, and these projects will help ensure we continue to strengthen that position," Faris said.

"The portfolio brings together a mix of near-term improvements and breakthrough technologies that have the potential to lower costs, improve performance and accelerate the deployment of solar energy both in Australia and around the world."

"Achieving ultra low-cost solar requires innovation across the entire value chain. From the solar cells and modules themselves through to the way solar farms are built, operated and maintained, these projects will help unlock practical solutions that support a faster, more affordable energy transition."

He added ARENA initially allocated only $60 million for these projects but decided to increase funding after considerations on the quality of applications.

Current applicants include University of New South Wales with 12 projects, Australian National University, University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, Sunspence, and Proa Energy Australia.