ARENA announces R&D round for industry-partnered projects

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced up to $20 million for a new research and development (R&D) round dedicated to industry-partnered projects that seek to develop and commercialise renewable energy technologies.

ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the funds will be provided through the agency’s Research & Development Programme in a round which will “support industry and research partnerships to deliver R&D projects with practical applications and commercially oriented outcomes that integrate renewable energy into networks, buildings and industrial processes”. Grants are typically $500,000 to $5 million.

Frischknecht emphasised that the goal of the R&D round is to “further align our investment in research and development with the needs of industry”. He explained, “Strong collaboration between researchers and industry will help ensure Australia’s world-class renewable energy research is translated into commercial outcomes that increase the economic, social and environmental return on investment in R&D.”

ARENA sought input from key industry and research stakeholders to identify R&D priorities that would help meet the challenges facing Australia’s energy market and future energy supply, Frischknecht said. Proposed projects must address one of four priority technology areas:

• Balance of system (BoS) cost reduction (either on-grid or off-grid).
• Integration and high penetration of renewables into networks (either on-grid, off-grid or mini-grids).
• Integration of renewable energy for industrial process (excluding electricity generation).
• Integration of renewable energy into buildings or building materials.

Grants are open to industry-research partnerships which include at least one eligible Australian research institution (research partner) and at least one industry partner. Expressions of interest will be accepted until 19 June at 5 pm AEST. More information is available on the ARENA website.