Ultra Low-Cost Solar PV R&D Funding Round

  • Minimum grant for Projects in Stream 1 (Cells and Modules) is $3.5 million
  • Minimum grant for Projects in Stream 2 (Balance of Systems, and Operation and Maintenance) is $2 million
  • The maximum grant for a project is $10 million across both streams
  • EOI Application closes 21st October 2025
  • Minimum 50% co-contribution expected, contributions can be a combination of cash and in-kind contributions

ARENA is continuing its support for research and development (R&D) and commercialisation of Australian solar PV, with a new $60 million funding round to push innovation and take solar to ultra low-cost levels.

ARENA’s ULCS goal is to achieve a Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) for utility-scale solar PV of under $20 per MWh.

Key Requirements

Program open to applications for projects which have achieved a Technology Readiness Level of at least three at the time of applying.

Round Objectives

The round is seeking proposals that can make a significant contribution through six Focus Areas across two streams:

Stream 1: Cells and Modules

  • Increase efficiency: Develop large size cells for next generation solar modules at over 30% module efficiency.
  • Reduce cost: Reduce system cost to below 30 cents per watt.
  • Improve stability: Improve stability of cells and modules for utility-scale solar farms to meet a minimum asset life of 30 years, with longer asset operating lifetimes expected.

Stream 2: Balance of Systems, and Operations and Maintenance

  • Reduce Balance of System (BoS) deployment cost: Cost reductions for utility-scale solar PV deployment toward 30 cents per watt. Achieving this is expected to require novel approaches for constructing solar farms including simplifying mounting designs, prefabrication and / or improved installation (e.g. automation through AI and Robotics), and other BoS design innovations (e.g. larger module sizes).
  • Reduce Operations & Maintenance (O&M) costs: Research and commercialisation of innovation to reduce O&M costs, risks and complexity.
  • Other LCOE reduction and / or innovation to increase yield: Innovative solar PV system design to uplift solar farm performance, reduce cost and increase market adoption of Balance of System (BoS) innovation.

Project Activities Location

  • The Applicant must be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of ARENA that the majority of the Project activities will take place in Australia.
  • No more than 10 per cent of the total Project Budget may be spent overseas, with the exception of the purchase or use of equipment and materials.

What is eligible for funding?

Eligible Expenditure includes:

  • Labour expenditure, such as salaries and wages
  • Administrative expenses, including expenses incurred on communications, accommodation, computing facilities, travel, recruitment, printing and stationery
  • Bench or lab access fees
  • Expenditure on research infrastructure
  • Expenditure on research infrastructure including hire or lease costs, and running costs
  • Expenditure activities that directly contribute to or enable knowledge including database development, websites, applications and reports
  • Expenditure on legal, audit and accounting costs
  • Expenditure related to the raising of funds for the Project, or the formation of consortia or joint ventures or other partnering arrangements
  • Expenditure such as relevant licence fees or intellectual property purchase costs, where the Applicant needs to access specific technology to undertake the Project; and
  • Expenditure related directly to obtaining government approvals to undertake the Project

What companies are eligible for funding?

The Applicant must:

  • at the time of applying, hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and
  • be either:
    • an Australian entity incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth); or
    • an eligible Australian research institution as set out below
    • an Australian university (University)
    • the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)
    • the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) including Data61
    • the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
    • the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO)
    • Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs)
    • the National Measurement Institute (NMI); or
    • Australian Research Council (ARC) Centres of Excellence

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.