UNSW researchers secure major share of record government investment in solar – The National Tribune

Posted on September 2, 2026 by Now.Solar

UNSW Sydney academics have been awarded $64.8 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) for 12 different solar projects.
Researchers from UNSW’s Engineering and Science faculties have been granted the bulk of a $105.6 million investment by ARENA in Australia’s next wave of solar innovation.
ARENA almost doubled its grant allocation for Ultra Low-Cost Solar PV Research due to the high quality of applications it received. It marks the organisation’s largest single investment in solar photovoltaic research.
The UNSW projects, 12 of the 20 to receive funding, include improving silicon solar modules so they last longer, improving the efficiency of solar cells, developing materials to improve the cost and efficiency of solar panels and better monitoring of solar farms.
Professor Bronwyn Fox, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Enterprise, said UNSW had long been at the forefront of solar research and that these grants would provide a huge boost to a wide range of significant projects driving the future of solar energy.
“Ever since UNSW’s pioneering work developing high-efficiency silicon solar cells 50 years ago, the University has been a leader in solar energy research,” Prof Fox said.
“UNSW is thrilled to partner with ARENA on these 12 projects which continue to build on this strength and help drive the development of more affordable solar technology.”
Eleven of the projects are attached to UNSW’s School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, with one from the School of Chemistry.
UNSW Dean of Engineering, Professor Julien Epps,said: “This funding enables some of the leading experts worldwide in solar photovoltaics to work hand-in-hand with industry to drive forward innovative research and development that is pivotal to the energy transition and pivotal to climate change mitigation.”
The successful projects from UNSW are:
Lower-temperature connections for advanced solar panels
Making silicon solar panels more efficient and durable
Testing next-generation solar panels in real-world conditions
Improving solar panel durability in Australian conditions
Making perovskite-silicon solar panels more efficient and reliable
Using AI and advanced manufacturing to improve tandem solar panels
Developing more efficient and affordable tandem solar cells
Using AI to discover new solar materials
Developing new materials to make silicon solar cells more efficient
Designing solar panels for specific sites to reduce costs
Using AI to improve solar farm operations
Using daylight imaging to detect solar panel problems
ARENA acting CEO Chris Faris said the projects would help ensure Australia remained at the forefront of solar innovation while addressing some of the biggest challenges facing the renewable energy industry.
“Australia has played a leading role in the development of solar technology, and these projects will help ensure we continue to strengthen that position,” Mr Faris said.
“The portfolio brings together a mix of near-term improvements and breakthrough technologies that have the potential to lower costs, improve performance and accelerate the deployment of solar energy both in Australia and around the world.
“Achieving ultra low-cost solar requires innovation across the entire value chain. From the solar cells and modules themselves through to the way solar farms are built, operated and maintained, these projects will help unlock practical solutions that support a faster, more affordable energy transition.”




























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