How to Apply for Funding

Step 1 – Read Funding Round Announcement & Program Guidelines

  • Background

    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.

    How it works

    We are seeking proposals from a broad range of Applicants including, but not limited to, Australian universities and research groups and innovative businesses to accelerate cost reductions and meet ARENA’s ULCS LCOE goal.

    This is a competitive funding round under our Research, Development and Commercialisation (RDC) Program (formerly referred to as TRAC Program). It is open to applications for projects which have achieved a Technology Readiness Level of at least three at the time of applying.

    Information webinars

    ARENA held two webinars to introduce the Ultra Low-Cost Solar PV R&D Funding Round on 17 and 29 July, with the same content discussed at each webinar. The recording is below, as well as slides.

    Round Objectives

    We seek ambitious 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.

    Guidelines and Funding Round Announcement

    Before you proceed to Step 2, read the following documents.

    Further reading

Step 2 – Observe the key dates
  • Key dates
    • 9 July 2025 Round launch
    • 17 July 2025 Webinar Session 1 (Closed)
    • 29 July 2025 Webinar Session 2 (Closed)
    • 5 August 2025 Expression of Interest (EOI) Application Open
    • 21 October 2025 EOI Application Close at 11:59PM AEDT.  ARENA will not accept any EOI applications after this date.
    • December 2025 EOI outcome letters and invitation to Full Application

    ARENA expects to notify outcomes of the EOI Stage to Applicants in December 2025. Applicants successful at the EOI Stage will be invited to submit a Full Application at this time.

    The dates represent the current timetable for the Funding Round. ARENA retains the right to amend proposed timelines and stages of the Funding Round at its discretion.

    You can download a copy of the timeline of key dates here (PDF 135KB).

Step 3 – Prepare your response
  • Expression of Interest

    EOI Applications open for submissions from 5 August 2025 to 21 October 2025.

    1. Navigate to and create an account with the ARENANet Portal
    2. Requirements for Applicants submitting an expression of interest are outlined in the Guidelines with further direction provided in the Ultra Low-Cost Solar PV R&D Funding Round Announcement
    3. Select ‘[Research, Development & Commercialisation – Ultra Low-Cost Solar PV Funding Round – Expression of Interest]’

    Submit the following documents with your EOI application:

    • 4-page attachment to explain your technology (including diagrams)
    • Project Budget Sources and Uses using the Excel template provided
    • 2-3 page attachment for the high-level commercialisation plan

    Please use size 11, Times New Roman font with normal margins (2.54cm) for word attachments.

    Reference documents

    Webinars

    ARENA held two webinars to introduce the Ultra Low-Cost Solar PV R&D Funding Round on 17 and 29 July, with the same content discussed at each webinar. The FAQ document has been updated after the second webinar. The recording is below, as well as slides.

    Questions

    Have a question? Refer to the FAQs document.

    If you cannot find the answer there, please send an email to solar@arena.gov.au

     

  • Full Application

    Full Application stage is expected to open in December 2025 by invitation only.

    Successful Applicants at the EOI Stage will be sent an ARENANet Portal link to complete the submission.

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