ARENA’s Solar SunShot – Round 3

The round focuses on balance-of-plant and deployment technologies, meaning the equipment and methods used to construct and operate a solar farm, excluding the solar panels themselves. 

Eligible technologies may include:

• Racking and tracking systems, including structures that support or move panels to follow the sun;
• Robotics, advanced automation and prefabrication to improve the speed and efficiency of solar farm construction; and
• Other technologies that reduce the cost of constructing or operating solar PV facilities.

Projects are expected to involve commercial-scale manufacturing of technologies that are at least Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8 and Commercial Readiness Index (CRI) 3 when manufacturing begins.

Grant funding between $2 million to $40 million is available. The total funding pool is $250 million.

There is no fixed co-contribution requirement, although the level and certainty of co-funding will form part of the assessment.

Applicants must:

• Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN);
• Be an Australian entity incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001; and
• Propose a project that will primarily take place in Australia.

International companies may apply where they are incorporated in Australia and seeking to establish, expand or demonstrate relevant manufacturing and technology capabilities in Australia.

Round 3 is now open for Expressions of Interest and will close in approximately 12 months.