The funding boost will extend the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics' world-leading research to power the next wave of global innovation in solar technologies.
The Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP) has secured $95.4 million from The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to extend its world-leading solar photovoltaics (PV) research program to 2033. The funding forms part of a $220 million national research initiative that includes investment by ACAP's seven member universities and industry partners.
The continuation of ACAP, a UNSW-led centre, will strengthen Australia's global leadership in PV research and innovation. It builds on more than a decade of ACAP's work with leading solar researchers and industry partners to accelerate breakthroughs in high-efficiency clean energy.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said the University was proud to lead ACAP, working with partners across the country to turn Australia's world-class solar research into real-world impact.
"ARENA's continued investment in ACAP reflects the power of national collaboration and aligns with UNSW's Progress for All strategy to deliver research with global impact, while supporting Australia's transition to a more sustainable, resilient energy future," he said.
The Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, said: "Australia helped lead the world in solar and we want to keep leading the world in the next wave of solar innovation.
"This funding backs our best researchers and helps turn Australian ideas into real-world technologies that can strengthen our clean energy system and create economic opportunity. Building more of this expertise here at home makes Australia stronger, more secure and better placed for the future."
ACAP Executive Director Professor Renate Egan said improvements in solar technology over the last decades were a result of strong foundational research, industry development and collaboration.
"This significant investment from ARENA is about moving faster and going further. We'll combine materials discovery with AI‑enabled experimentation, advanced characterisation and a collaborative national program to deliver competitive technologies that are bankable for manufacturers and investors."
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the further investment in ACAP would ensure Australia remains at the forefront of global solar innovation.
"Australia has some of the best solar researchers in the world and ACAP has been instrumental in turning that expertise into globally recognised breakthroughs," Mr Miller said.
"If Australia is to achieve ultra-low-cost solar, we need to keep pushing the limits of cell efficiency. ACAP's work is doing exactly that, helping deliver high-performance solar cell and module technologies that will reduce costs at scale.
"This work underpins ARENA's strategy to make solar the backbone of Australia's net zero energy system and is a critical enabler for decarbonising industries like green metals, transport, fuel production and data centres."
Shaping global solar industry for 50 years
UNSW has been a global leader and record-breaker in solar PV engineering for more than 50 years.
Scientia Professor Martin Green led the team that invented and perfected the Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC) solar cell, along with other technologies, that together account for more than 90% of today's solar cells.
Under UNSW's leadership, ACAP has delivered a series of globally recognised advances in solar technology, including major improvements in the efficiency, durability and cost of solar energy, and the development of next‑generation tandem solar cells.
These include SunDrive 's copper-based solar cells, replacing supply constrained silver and Hello Again Solar 's laser-based, chemical-free solar panel recycling technology that separates and recovers all major materials without harsh chemicals or high temperatures.
Another pioneering technology is advanced, drone-based imaging that enables solar farm operators to see hidden defects in solar panels. The technology, which is on the cusp of commercialisation, was developed by UNSW spinout Lab 360 Solar with ACAP's support.
ACAP also plays a critical role in building Australia's clean energy workforce, supporting researchers, engineers and PhD students while strengthening collaboration across the solar innovation ecosystem.
ACAP members include the Australian National University, CSIRO Energy and CSIRO Manufacturing, the University of Melbourne, Monash University, the University of Queensland and the University of Sydney.
