Australia, with support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), is set to embark on a strategic journey towards establishing a robust domestic solar PV manufacturing industry.
The Silicon 2 Solar roadmap, developed by the Australian Photovoltaic Institute (APVI) in collaboration with Deloitte and key industry stakeholders, outlines a comprehensive plan for building supply chains from raw material processing to module manufacturing for the country.
The roadmap meticulously analyses four crucial stages in the solar PV supply chain: polysilicon production, ingots and wafers manufacturing, solar cells production, and module manufacturing.
Despite challenges in each stage, the report indicates that Australia possesses the capability to successfully participate in all aspects of the supply chain.
Focusing on crystalline silicon solar cells, the roadmap positions Australia as a potential manufacturer of cutting-edge solar technology. While currently reliant on other markets for low-cost solar PV modules, Australia aims to reduce risks to its energy transformation and play a more substantial role in global net-zero ambitions by contributing to international supply chains.
Darren Miller, CEO of ARENA, emphasises that the roadmap provides a clear vision for Australia’s role in manufacturing advanced solar technology.
“Australia has already demonstrated its capacity to manufacture advanced technology in other sectors. Solar PV represents an enormous opportunity to apply our skills to a sector that will play a critical role in Australia’s clean energy economy,” Miller said.
“A number of Australian companies have already stated their ambitions to develop local manufacturing of solar PV at scale, and ‘Silicon 2 Solar’ illuminates the policy and investment pathway to make these bold plans a reality.”
With a strong track record in other advanced technology sectors, Australia sees solar PV as a significant opportunity to leverage its skills for a pivotal role in the nation’s clean energy economy.
The roadmap aligns with ARENA’s vision for ultra-low-cost solar in Australia, targeting 30 per cent solar module efficiency and an installed cost of 30 cents per watt by 2030.
According to ARENA, it has played a pivotal role in reshaping Australia’s renewable energy landscape over the past eleven years, driving down the cost of renewable electricity and commercialising new technologies.
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