Australia launches Solar Sunshot Programme to boost solar PV manufacturing

The programme has $652.5m in funding.

The Australian Government established the Solar Sunshot programme to support the growth of solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing in the country with a $652.5m (A$1b) funding.

In a statement, The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) said the programme which development and design will be in partnership with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is aimed at providing “a pathway for the rich history of local solar PV innovation to be commercialised.”

Solar Sunshot will provide support to the solar PV supply chain including the scaling up of module manufacturing capabilities and exploring other areas which can help boost the industry such as polysilicon, ingots and wafers, cells, and module assembly, amongst others.

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ARENA and DCCEEW, meanwhile, will release consultation papers on the proposed programme specifications which cover the objectives, funding mechanisms and timings.

“Australia has the opportunity to build high-quality products across the solar PV supply chain. Although we have a very small production capability today, we have the skills and the partnerships to establish a strong base that can be built on over the next decade,” ARENA CEO Darren Miller said.

“To unlock our renewable energy superpower vision, we need to be able to play a part in the whole supply chain, while also working with international partners and leveraging learnings as we build our own capability to complement the global market,” he added.

$1 = A$1.53