Australia’s solar research sector has received a major funding boost, with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) committing an additional $95.4 million to the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP) to support next-generation solar technology development through to 2033.
According to ARENA, the funding will extend ACAP’s existing research program and continue collaboration between Australia’s leading solar researchers and industry partners aimed at advancing high-efficiency solar cells and modules.
Led by the University of New South Wales (UNSW), ACAP brings together a consortium of institutions including the Australian National University, CSIRO Energy, CSIRO Manufacturing, the University of Melbourne, Monash University, the University of Queensland and the University of Sydney.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the investment was intended to help Australia maintain its position in global solar innovation.
“Australia helped lead the world in solar and we want to keep leading the world in the next wave of solar innovation,” Bowen said.
“This funding backs our best researchers and helps turn Australian ideas into real-world technologies that can strengthen our clean energy system and create economic opportunity.”
He said developing expertise domestically would help make Australia “stronger, more secure and better placed for the future”.
ARENA said ACAP has contributed to a range of internationally recognised advances in solar technology over the past decade, including improvements in solar efficiency, durability and cost, as well as the development of next-generation tandem solar cells.
ARENA chief executive officer Darren Miller said the latest funding would help Australia remain at the forefront of solar research.
“Australia has some of the best solar researchers in the world and ACAP has been instrumental in turning that expertise into globally recognised breakthroughs,” Miller said.
“If Australia is to achieve ultra low-cost solar, we need to keep pushing the limits of cell efficiency. ACAP’s work is doing exactly that, helping deliver high-performance solar cell and module technologies that will reduce costs at scale.”
Miller said the research supported ARENA’s goal of making solar a central part of Australia’s net-zero energy system and would contribute to the decarbonisation of industries including green metals, transport, fuel production and data centres.
ARENA also noted that the program supports workforce development by helping train researchers, engineers and PhD students while strengthening collaboration across the solar innovation sector.
ACAP executive director Professor Renate Egan said Australia’s achievements in solar technology had been built on long-term research and industry collaboration.
“Australia is uniquely placed, globally, in its research leadership and its connection to industry,” Egan said.
“This significant investment provides a long-term research horizon and positions Australia to build on its success in developing the technologies and talent needed to deliver on next-generation solar technologies that will power a low-carbon future Australia.”
