A set of coordinated activities are required to ensure that Australia can successfully deploy the scale of solar PV needed, not just to realise the Australian Government’s target of 82 per cent renewables in our electricity system by 2030, but to reduce the cost of solar PV even further beyond 2030 and realise the vision of Australia as a renewable energy superpower. These activities include ensuring that Australia has a vibrant local solar PV industry, there is off-take certainty for new solar developments, there is adequate deployment of energy storage, and new transmission lines are built out.

The main objectives of this paper are to:

• elevate solar photovoltaics (PV) in Australia’s national priorities by outlining the benefits that extremely cheap solar could unlock, and
• communicate key barriers and innovation priorities for ultra low-cost solar to government, industry and the Australian public.

This paper primarily focuses on the utility-scale market, comprised of systems connected to the electricity grid ranging in size from hundreds of kilowatts to thousands of megawatts of solar power. ARENA also acknowledge there is an important role for behind-the-meter solar PV for residential, commercial and industrial users, as well as smaller-scale solar PV connected to the distribution networks. Innovations that drive down the cost of utility-scale solar can also benefit these markets.