Albanese declares $1b solar program open for business
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The news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that the $1 billion Solar Sunshot program is now open for submissions as Australia looks to reduce its dependence on China.
The context: The solar program is aimed at ensuring more solar panels are made domestically, offering production subsidies and grants to help Australian businesses capture more of the global solar manufacturing supply chain.
Forming part of Albanese’s Future Made in Australia policy, many economists have criticised it on the basis that Australia does not have a competitive advantage in manufacturing solar panels.
But with one in three Australian households powered by solar — the highest take-up in the world — Albanese is using the policy as a key plank in his agenda to create more manufacturing jobs with a focus on clean energy.
The first $550 million, administered by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), will support the commercialisation of Australian solar photovoltaic (PV) innovations and scale up the manufacturing of Australian solar panels.
This will include $500 million to support solar panel manufacturing in Australia, with a focus on modules, inputs to modules, and deployment systems. The other $50 million will be used to fund solar panel manufacturing studies, including feasibility and engineering.
What they said: “I want a Future Made in Australia. And I want a future made in our regions. Places like the Hunter, Gladstone, Rockhampton and the Spencer Gulf,” Albanese said.
“Because Australia can do what other countries cannot. We have that combination of resources, skills, workers, space and sunlight to co-locate those links in the value chain.
“Solar Sunshot is about building on those strong foundations, building resilience into Australia’s renewable energy supply chains, and building a Future Made in Australia.”
Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen said: “When it comes to powering Australia’s future nothing will beat our sun and our solar knowhow. That’s why bringing solar manufacturing to our shores is so critical for unlocking our future as a renewable energy superpower and securing the job of the future".
“Diverse, secure and resilient supply chains — supported by more onshore manufacturing across more of the value chain — are too important to our security and success to leave to hope.
“Now is the time to take advantage of some of the best solar resources and renewable energy expertise in the world.”
The source: Prime Minister's Office
