ARENA says funding unresolved, but looking for projects

The head of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency says funding for the agency remains unresolved, but it will continue its legal requirement to continue operations and is seeking new proposals for projects.

Ivor Frischknecht, the CEO of ARENA, told the Asia Pacific Solar Research Conference at the University of NSW this week, that the agency will also seek new proposals for research projects, with around $20 million to be allocated.

The federal government has tried to abolish ARENA and assume management of its project within a government department, but the Senate signaled it will vote down repeal legislation, although it has passed bills – as part of the carbon repeal deal – that cut funding by around $800 million

Frischknecht said the situation on funding is still unresolved. “We are uncertain if the government has any intention of introducing the repeal bill into the Senate,” he said.

But existing project commitments remain in place, and the agency had a legal obligation to continue to operate. “We are accepting applications, and we are awarding grants,” he said.

“We do have funds available to invest, despite losing money through the Carbon Repeal Act …. and we are keen to see new applications.”

“Until that legislation is changed, it is business as usual for us. We do have funds available to invest. We are in business and we are keen to see new applications.”

ARENA will provide a new funding round for research grants in 2015, and wants industry to become more involved.

Some of its priorities include balance of systems costs for solar PV, including the regulatory environment and planning regimes, integration of renewables into the grid – both the NEM and mini grids; how renewables could replace gas, whose price is soaring, and how solar can be integrated into buildings, appliances, cars and even signage.

“We think collaboration between industry and researchers is incredibly important,” he said. The R&D round of funding will take place in the first half of 2015.

Just this week, an ARENA-funded UNSW solar research team recorded the highest efficiency for a PV system ever reported, converting over 40 per cent of sunlight into electricity, with an innovative take on Australian-designed solar tower technology developed by Australian company RayGen Resources.

ARENA contributed $550,000 towards the $1.3 million project.

“The clever solution combines advanced triple junction cells with cheaper conventional silicon cells to boost power output,” said Frischknecht.

“Light that is normally wasted by triple junction cells is captured by splitting incoming sunlight into different spectra and directing some of it into a silicon cell,” he said.

“This approach has achieved a higher efficiency than what is physically possible with a triple junction cell alone.

“Instead of using mirrors to heat a medium like salt, the high tech receiver converts light to electricity directly, like a rooftop solar panel does.

“This project is an excellent example of ARENA achieving true innovation with real-world commercial application through investment in solar research.

“It has real potential for RayGen Resources’ concentrating PV power tower technology, currently being commercialised through another ARENA supported project.”