• About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Events
Monday, June 23, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Events
  • Features
  • Electricity
  • Gas
  • Renewables
    • Batteries & Storage
    • Hydro Power
    • Hydrogen
    • Solar
    • Wind
  • Smart Energy
No Results
View All Results
  • News
    • Events
  • Features
  • Electricity
  • Gas
  • Renewables
    • Batteries & Storage
    • Hydro Power
    • Hydrogen
    • Solar
    • Wind
  • Smart Energy
No Results
View All Results
Home News

$40 million boost for ultra low cost solar

by Lauren DeLorenzo
January 11, 2022
in News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Spotlight
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
solar panels
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

To help achieve the Federal Government’s ultra low cost solar stretch goal, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced up to $40 million for solar research and development (R&D).

The R&D funding round will build on ARENA’s new Investment Plan. In support of ultra low cost solar, ARENA has set an ambitious target of ‘Solar 30 30 30’, to improve solar cell efficiency to 30 per cent and reduce the total cost of construction of utility scale solar farms to 30 cents per watt by 2030.

ARENA is inviting applications that can materially reduce the levelised cost of solar PV by 2030 across two streams:

  • Stream 1 – Cells and Modules: Building on Australia’s leading track record of R&D and innovation in solar cells and modules
  • Stream 2 – Balance of system, operations and maintenance: Seeking to broaden the approach to accelerate innovation that can drive down the upfront and ongoing costs of utility scale solar PV in the field.

ARENA currently expects to allocate up to $20 million in total funding to each of the two streams.

Ultra low cost solar was recently added as a priority technology in the Australian Government’s latest Low Emissions Technology Statement (LETS), which set a stretch goal of $15 per megawatt hour, roughly a third of its current cost.

Ultra low cost solar will be a key input to scaling up production of low cost green hydrogen in support of the LETS hydrogen goal of “H2 under $2”, and will be key to unlocking other decarbonisation pathways for heavy industry, including low emission materials such as green steel and aluminium.

Since 2012, ARENA through its R&D programs has committed close to $105 million in grant funding to over 70 projects. 

ARENA CEO, Darren Miller, said the pioneering work of Australian solar researchers will be key to driving cost reductions and improving solar cell efficiency.

“Australia’s solar researchers have been leading the world for decades,” Mr Miller said.

“Thirty years ago, University of New South Wales (UNSW) researchers invented the PERC silicon solar cell, technology which today is the foundation of more than 80 per cent of the world’s solar panels.

“That great work continues through the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP), our universities and CSIRO, as well as clean energy startups. 

“Just a few months ago, SunDrive – a startup founded by former UNSW students and now based in Sydney – created the world’s most efficient solar cell.

“This $40 million R&D funding round will support Australia’s solar researchers and industry to get behind the target of Solar 30 30 30 and drive the innovation that will deliver ultra low cost solar.”

Expressions of Interest for the Ultra Low Cost Solar R&D Funding Round will open in February 2022 with applications due by 5pm AEST Monday 11 April 2022.

For further information on how to apply, visit ARENA’s funding page.

Related Posts

Image: Zarlow Photography/stock.adobe.com

A win for renewables in WA Budget

by Sarah MacNamara
June 23, 2025

The Western Australian Government has unveiled its 2025–26 Budget, which includes substantial investments in to help make the state a...

Image: sharonwills/stock.adobe.com

Green light for ElectraNet’s REZ expansion

by Sarah MacNamara
June 23, 2025

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has approved ElectraNet’s proposed $45.7 million Stage 1a early works for its Mid North South...

Image: Yermek/stock.adobe.com

Federal Government to reform default market offer

by Sarah MacNamara
June 23, 2025

The Federal Government has opened consultation on its proposed reforms to the default market offer (DMO), aimed at ensuring customers...

Read our magazine

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
Energy is a thought-leading, technology-neutral magazine, developed to help the industry answer some of the Energy sector critical questions it is currently grappling with.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Energy

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Digital Magazine
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Topics

  • News
  • Spotlight
  • Renewable Energy
  • Electricity
  • Projects
  • Networks
  • Sustainability
  • Gas

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
    • Events
  • Features
  • Electricity
  • Gas
  • Renewables
    • Batteries & Storage
    • Hydro Power
    • Hydrogen
    • Solar
    • Wind
  • Smart Energy
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Newsletter

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited