Australian Government Invests $1 Billion For Solar Sunshot Program

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A joint media release by Anthony Albanese Member of Parliament (MP), and the Prime Minister of Australia shared the Albanese government’s $1 billion investment in the Solar Sunshot programme in Australia.

The minister said, “Solar Sunshot will help Australia capture more of the global solar manufacturing supply chain through support, including production subsidies and grants. This will help ensure more solar panels are made in Australia, including in the Hunter Region, where the Prime Minister announced the site of the former coal-fired Liddell Power Station.”

The statement mentioned, “While one in three Australian households have solar panels – the highest uptake in the world – only 1 percent of those have been made in Australia. In parallel with Solar Sunshot, the NSW Labor Government is delivering the NSW Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative, with the $275 million first round now open to support workers, small businesses, manufacturers, and innovators to take advantage of the transformation of our energy grid.”

The government also shared plans, “In the second round, the NSW Labor Government will work with industry to leverage government procurement to offer offtake agreements to local manufacturers of renewable products and low carbon materials. Initiatives like Solar Sunshot and the NSW Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative, mean the regions that have long powered this country will continue to prosper in the net zero economy by deepening the industrial; base, largely located in the regions.”

The government stated, “The $1 billion federal investment in the Solar Sunshot program builds on over $40 billion of investment committed by the Australian Government to make Australia a renewable energy superpower. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will now work with industry to design and deliver this initiative, along with the Australian Government. ARENA will look at the entire supply chain from ingots and wafers to cells, module assembly, and related components, including solar glass, inverters, advanced deployment technology, and solar innovation. The consultation is expected to commence in mid-April.

The minister in his statement mentioned, “This policy complements other processes underway such as the Hydrogen Headstart program also administered by ARENA.”

Sharing the Albanese Government announcement, Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Kane Thornton said, “Australia has led the rest of the world in the research, development, and uptake of rooftop solar systems, but we have thus far missed the opportunity to manufacture more of these components here at home. This is about to change.”

Kane Thornton said, “We are a country rich in renewable energy resources, such as land, coastline, and sunshine that have yet to be harnessed to their full potential. More than 3.7 million Australian homes have installed rooftop solar, with almost half a million new systems being installed every year. This commitment will mean that more of these systems will contain products made right here in Australia.

He said, “The missing piece of the puzzle here is establishing a strong sovereign manufacturing capability that captures this innovation and expertise to meet more of the extraordinary demand, both here and overseas, for solar products. We look forward to working with the Government on establishing a detailed design and timely implementation of this policy.”