Solar Sunshot

Solar Sunshot – Round 2

  • EOI applications are open for submissions until 30 April 2026, and Full Applications are due by 31 August 2026.
  • Total funding pool: ARENA has committed $150 million to Round 2 to advance solar manufacturing and deployment.
  • ARENA expects funding requests to range between $2 million and $20 million per project. Requests outside this range may be considered at ARENA’s discretion.

Solar Sunshot – Round 2 is part of the Australian Government’s broader $1 billion Solar Sunshot Program, delivered by ARENA. This round focuses on inputs to solar PV modules and deployment technologies, aiming to strengthen Australia’s solar manufacturing capabilities and reduce deployment costs.

Its objectives include advancing and automating the production of solar module components to support local manufacturing, increasing cost competitiveness and resilience across solar module inputs and related technologies, scaling up domestic solar PV deployment, and encouraging innovative approaches to reduce the overall cost of solar PV implementation.

Key Requirements

Expected outcomes:

  • A more resilient and competitive solar PV supply chain.
  • Enhanced local manufacturing and deployment capacity.
  • Reduced reliance on global supply chains.
  • Community benefits including job creation and skills development.

Projects must:

  • Involve commercial-scale manufacturing of solar PV technologies at TRL 8 and CRI 3 or higher.
  • Focus on components such as solar glass, framing, junction boxes, and deployment technologies (e.g. racking and tracking systems).
  • Be primarily conducted in Australia.
  • Demonstrate alignment with Community Benefit Principles (e.g. local jobs, First Nations engagement, regional development).
  • Include a Knowledge Sharing plan as per ARENA’s guidelines.

What is eligible for funding?

Eligible activities include:

  • Manufacturing of solar PV module components and deployment systems.
  • Scaling up new or additional manufacturing capacity (not existing production).
  • Use of existing infrastructure is allowed, but funding cannot support current production levels.

What companies are eligible for funding?

In order to be eligible companies must:

  • Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN).
  • Be incorporated entities operating in Australia.
  • Demonstrate capability, capacity, and financial viability.
  • Commit to co-funding and knowledge sharing.
  • Comply with all relevant Australian laws and ARENA’s compliance requirements.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

  • Industry analysis presentation
  • Competitor Analysis Presentation
  • Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
  • 3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
  • 3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
  • End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
  • CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
  • Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
  • Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.