Australian Renewable Energy Agency Invests AU$105.6 Million in Solar Research to Reduce Costs
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has committed AU$105.6 million to fund 20 research and development projects focused on reducing the cost of large-scale solar energy. This investment marks ARENA's largest single allocation to solar PV research and development to date. The funding aims to enhance efficiency, decrease costs, and improve stability across advanced solar cells and modules. Additionally, projects will target innovations to lower the expenses associated with building, operating, and maintaining solar PV power plants, ultimately reducing the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). The initiative builds on ARENA's 'Ultra Low-Cost Solar PV Research and Development' program, which initially allocated AU$60 million but increased funding due to the high quality of applications received. Many of the 20 successful projects will be conducted at universities, including the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the Australian National University (ANU), with a focus on improving cell and modul... 
