Albanese unveils $1b program to boost local solar production
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The news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce the federal government's $1 billion Solar SunShot program today, which includes the conversion of the Liddell Power Station in NSW into a solar manufacturing hub.
The numbers: While one in three Australian households have solar panels — the highest uptake in the world — only 1% of those have been made in Australia.
The government said the Solar SunShot program will run in parallel with the NSW Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative, which has allocated $275 million for support workers, small businesses and manufacturers working on energy transition projects.
The latest announcement builds on $40 billion of renewable energy investment committed by the government to date.
The context: The Solar SunShot program will oversee production subsidies and grants with the aim of increasing Australia's role in the global solar manufacturing supply chain.
The site of the decommissioned coal-fired Liddell Power Station in NSW will be developed as a hub for manufacturing solar panels, supporting coal-communities such as nearby Muswellbrook and Singleton through the energy transition.
The program will be developed and delivered by the government's Australian Renewable Energy Agency, which also manages the Hydrogen Headstart program.
The announcement comes a day after the prime minister tabled legislation for a new Net Zero Economy Authority.
What they said: Albanese said: “Australia should not be the last link in a global supply chain built on an Australian invention.
“I want a future made in Australia. And I want a future made in our regions. Places like the Hunter that have powered our nation for more than a century will power our future.
“We have every metal and critical mineral necessary to be a central player in the net zero transformation, and a proven track record as a reliable energy producer and exporter.
“We can also invest in strategic manufacturing capability, particularly in components critical to the energy and economic transition, like solar panels.
“Historically, Australia has been good at going from the mining pit to port, and long may this continue. But the Australian Government will also invest in the path from pit to panels and capture more value for our economy and workforce."
The source: DCCEEW media release
