UNSW researchers secure major share of record government investment in solar

UNSW Sydney academics have been awarded $64.8 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) for 12 different solar projects.

Researchers from UNSW’s Engineering and Science faculties have been granted the bulk of a $105.6 million investment by ARENA, opens in a new window in Australia’s next wave of solar innovation. 

ARENA almost doubled its grant allocation for Ultra Low-Cost Solar PV Research, opens in a new window due to the high quality of applications it received. It marks the organisation’s largest single investment in solar photovoltaic research.

The UNSW projects, 12 of the 20 to receive funding, include improving silicon solar modules so they last longer, improving the efficiency of solar cells, developing materials to improve the cost and efficiency of solar panels and better monitoring of solar farms.

Professor Bronwyn Fox, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise, said UNSW had long been at the forefront of solar research and that these grants would provide a huge boost to a wide range of significant projects driving the future of solar energy.

“Ever since UNSW’s pioneering work developing high-efficiency silicon solar cells 50 years ago, the University has been a leader in solar energy research,” Prof Fox said.

“UNSW is thrilled to partner with ARENA on these 12 projects which continue to build on this strength and help drive the development of more affordable solar technology.”

Eleven of the projects are attached to UNSW’s School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, with one from the School of Chemistry. 

UNSW Dean of Engineering, Professor Julien Epps,said: “This funding enables some of the leading experts worldwide in solar photovoltaics to work hand-in-hand with industry to drive forward innovative research and development that is pivotal to the energy transition and pivotal to climate change mitigation.”