The Australian Photovoltaic Institute (APVI) unveils a strategic roadmap designed to catalyse domestic solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing, presenting a comprehensive blueprint for establishing robust supply chains within Australia. Named ‘Silicon 2 Solar,’ the report, backed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), is a collaborative effort between APVI, Deloitte, and key industry players such as:
- The Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP)
- AGL
- Aspiradac
- Energus
- Siemens
- SunDrive
- Tindo Solar
- 5B
This roadmap charts a course for Australia to emerge as a competitive solar manufacturer, meticulously analysing the techno-economic landscape of each stage in the solar PV supply chain. Spanning polysilicon production, ingot and wafer manufacturing, and solar cell/module assembly, the roadmap navigates through the challenges inherent in each phase, affirming Australia’s potential to thrive in solar manufacturing.
Primarily centred on crystalline silicon solar cell technology, the roadmap also envisions Australia’s ability to commercialise emerging solar innovations as they mature technologically and commercially. Despite Australia’s current reliance on imported solar PV modules, the nation boasts significant prowess in solar PV research and development and stands as a burgeoning market for solar energy.
The roadmap underscores the urgent need for Australia to establish domestic manufacturing capabilities to mitigate supply chain risks, especially as the country ramps up its annual solar PV installations, currently hovering around 5GW. According to ARENA CEO Darren Miller, the roadmap delineates Australia’s trajectory towards becoming a global leader in cutting-edge solar technology, leveraging the nation’s inherent strengths in the sector.
“Australia’s proven track record in advanced technology sectors positions us well to seize the opportunities presented by solar PV manufacturing,” notes Mr Miller.
“Solar PV holds immense potential to drive Australia’s transition to clean energy, and Silicon 2 Solar outlines the policy and investment frameworks necessary to materialise our ambitions.”
With numerous Australian companies expressing intent to scale up local solar PV manufacturing, Silicon 2 Solar paves the way for realising these ambitions, fostering a vibrant ecosystem for solar innovation and industry growth.
Related News: