The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has launched a AU$250 million funding round under its Solar Sunshot program, targeting Australian and international innovators to accelerate the local manufacture of large-scale solar technology.
Round 3 of the funding program focuses on commercial-scale equipment, manufacturing processes, and deployment technologies that can reduce the cost and speed up the construction of utility-scale solar farms.
The funding round is open to companies seeking to establish, expand, or demonstrate their product development and operational manufacturing in Australia.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller warned that while Australia remains a global leader in solar deployment, reducing the complexity and expense of large-scale development represents the next major hurdle.
“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.
“ARENA can help companies establish or expand their operations in Australia and demonstrate the value of their technologies under real-world conditions.”
The targeted technologies under Round 3 include solar balance-of-plant systems, racking and tracking hardware, prefabrication methods, advanced automation, and robotics designed to lower construction and operational overheads for solar power facilities.
This latest round builds on earlier investments from the broader AU$850 million Solar Sunshot program, which has previously backed module manufacturing and deployment innovations through companies including Tindo, 5B, Sunman, Luminous Robotics, and Built Robotics Australia.
Expressions of interest for Round 3 will officially open on 2 November, with ARENA inviting prospective applicants to discuss proposals demonstrating a clear path to commercial-scale production and local capability benefits.
