The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has launched a funding round of up to $250 million to support solar manufacturing and technology development in Australia, targeting equipment and processes designed to reduce the cost and complexity of building large-scale solar farms.
Announced on 15 October, Round 3 of the Solar Sunshot program is open to Australian and international companies seeking to establish or expand manufacturing operations, or demonstrate relevant technologies in Australia.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said Australia had an opportunity to develop the manufacturing capabilities needed to support the expansion of large-scale solar.
“Australia is already a world leader in deploying solar. The next challenge is to reduce the cost and complexity of building projects at much greater scale,” Miller said.
The funding round will focus on commercial-scale manufacturing of solar balance-of-plant equipment and deployment technologies, including racking and tracking systems, robotics, advanced automation and prefabrication.
ARENA said it was seeking commercially mature technologies with the potential to manufacture at scale in Australia. It also aims to support projects that strengthen local supply chains and share skills and knowledge across the solar sector.
“Round 3 is about more than supporting individual projects. We are looking for projects that can build lasting capability, strengthen local supply chains and share skills and knowledge across the broader solar sector,” Miller said.
The latest round builds on previous Solar Sunshot investments in Australian solar module manufacturing and deployment innovation, including projects led by Tindo, 5B and Sunman, as well as funding for Luminous Robotics and Built Robotics Australia.
Expressions of interest for Round 3 will open on 2 November 2026. ARENA has encouraged prospective applicants to discuss projects early, particularly those with a credible pathway to commercial scale and clear benefits for Australian manufacturing capability.
The Solar Sunshot program, announced by the Australian Government in March 2024, has a total funding envelope of $850 million to support innovation and growth in Australia’s solar photovoltaic manufacturing industry.
More information is available through ARENA’s Solar Sunshot Round 3 funding page.
