ARENA solar projects by Technology Readiness Level
Sector
TRL on
successful
completion
Technology
Funding
Recipient
Project Name:
Aim:
PV
2
OPV
University of
Queensland
New materials and architectures for
organic solar cells
Reduce $/watt cost by reaching maximum cell efficiency (SQ limit)
with a low manufacturing overhead.
PV
2
PV Gen 3
Australian
National
University
Plasmonics for high efficiency solar
cells
Investigating the use of silver nanostructures to trap light inside
solar cells.
PV
2
PV Gen 3
University of
New South
Wales
Towards a practical Hot Carrier
solar cell
Optimise the two essential components of the Hot Carrier (HC)
cell.
PV
2
PV Gen 3
University of
New South
Wales
Tandem Quantum Dot solar cells
To model and develop a new type of silicon cell that will use
nanoscale silicon quantum dots.
PV
2
PV Gen 3
University of
New South
Wales
The Hot Carrier solar cell
The Hot Carrier (HC) solar cell aims to tackle the major loss in
conventional solar cells due to heat shedding of “hot” excited
carriers.
CST
2
CST4
University of
Newcastle
Fabrication of thermionic device
using advanced ceramics
Develop a working prototype device using refractory thermionic
materials, for the direct conversion of the sun's energy to
electricity.
PV
3
OPV
University of
Melbourne
Enhanced efficiencies in printed
solar cells by controlling
morphology development
Will control the molecular alignment of the active organic
components in solar cells.
PV
3
PV Gen 3
University of
Sydney
Upconversion of the solar spectrum
for improved PV energy conversion
To overcome the limitations of conventional solar cells incapable
of using sunlight beyond a certain wavelength.
PV
3
PV Gen 3
University of
New South
Wales
Demonstrate higher efficiency third
generation photovoltaics
Will increase the number of silicon nanocrystal layers in silicon
oxide and silicon nitride containing multi-junction PV cells.
CST
3
CST2
Vast Solar
Pty Ltd
Validation of CST solar array
performance modelling
To validate performance modelling at pilot scale by extending an
existing testing and demonstration CSP facility in Jemalong NSW.
CST
3
CST3
Barbara
Hardy
Institute,
Development of a testing facility for
storing heat from solar energy at
high temperatures
To demonstrate the financial viability of high temperature thermal
storage systems.
Sector
TRL on
successful
completion
Technology
Funding
Recipient
Project Name:
Aim:
University of
South
Australia
CST
3
CST3
University of
South
Australia
New photocathodes for solar
hydrogen production
Mimic the natural photosnthesis process to convert solar energy
into a fuel.
CST
3
CST4
CSIRO
Development of a thermoelectric
generator for concentrated solar
thermal systems
To develop a 2-stage CSP system for medium-scale applications
using a thermoelectric generator (TEG).
CST
3
CST4
University of
New South
Wales
Tools for design and scale-up of
solar thermochemical reactors
Provide basic knowledge required to design solar thermochemical
reactors able to perform energy conversions.
PV
4
CPV
University of
New South
Wales
‘Power Cube’ power tower receiver
To develop an innovative spectral splitting device to increase PV
efficiency to above 46% (world record).
PV
4
PV Gen 1
Australian
National
University
High quality laser doping for solar
cells through improved
characterisation techniques
Develop innovative characterisation approaches that can allow
high quality data to be collected relatively quickly and acurately.
Cost effective gallium arsenide
phosphide top solar cell grown on a
high performance low cost silicon
solar cell
Cut solar energy costs by developing a high voltage cell that will
be 40% more efficient than conventional solar cells.
PV
4
PV Gen 3
University of
New South
Wales
PV
4
PV Gen 3
University of
New South
Wales
Multi junction c-Si solar cells based
on virtual Ge substrates
Fabricate a silicon-based cell with world-record >30% efficiency at
low cost.
CST
4
CST
Rooftop
RMIT
University
Micro Urban Solar Integrated
Concentrators (MUSIC) Centre
Develop innovative collector platforms for the delivery of up to
400°C thermal energy and electricity from building roofs.
CST
4
CST1
CSIRO
Evaluation and demonstration of
hybridisation of CST with carbon
capture and storage
A pilot plant to validate the continuous absorption of CO2 in the
absorber followed by time-shifted regeneration of the absorbent.
Sector
TRL on
successful
completion
Technology
Funding
Recipient
Project Name:
Aim:
CST
4
CST3
CSIRO
Advanced solar thermal energy
storage technologies
Develop and demonstrate reliable high temperature storage
systems/heat transfer mediums to overcome CSP intermittency
CST
4
CST3
CSIRO
Optimisation of central receivers for
advanced power cycles
Bring together the most efficient power cycles operating in the
600-800°C range with a high precision, low cost solar collector.
CST
4
CST3
CSIRO
Development of combined cycle
using solar reformed gas
Demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of a combined
cycle power plant at >60% efficiency fuelled with syngas.
CST
4
CST3
CSIRO
Solar hybrid fuels
To produce liquid fuels at moderate (550°C) temperatures
compatible with conventional solar thermal storage.
PV/CST
5
Enabling
CSIRO
Plug and play solar power
Address the technical complexities of RE hybridisation with
conventional generation by developing a ‘plug and play’ solution.
PV
5
OPV
University of
Melbourne
Printing solar cells
To deliver new materials and device architectures that promise to
enhance the overall efficiency and durability of printed solar cells.
PV
5
PV Gen 3
University of
New South
Wales
Low cost, high efficiency CopperZinc-Tin-Sulphide (CZTS) on silicon
multi-junction solar cells
Develop a new generation of silicon-based cell by producing
tandem devices that will achieve efficiency beyond 30%.
PV
5
QA/Test
University of
New South
Wales
Improved identification of
contaminants in silicon solar cells
More accurately identify the type and amount of efficiencyreducing contaminants in silicon solar cells.
CST
5
CST2
Australian
National
University
Improved high temperature
receivers for dish concentrators
Develop a significantly improved receiver intended for use on
ANU’s ‘Big dish’ concentrator as a proof-of-concept.
CST
5
CST2
CSIRO
Advanced steam-generating
receivers for high concentration
solar collectors
Generate high-temperature steam from a CSP plant as efficiently
as conventional fossil generation.
CST
5
CST2
CSIRO
Hybrid concentrating solar thermal
systems for large scale applications
This project aims to advance and accelerate a prospective CST
technology towards commercialisation.
PV
6
Enabling
CSIRO
Solar energy management system
for utilities
Developing a world-first ‘firm’ solar system to reliably reduce the
impacts of peak demand by tackling air-conditioner electrical
consumption.
Sector
TRL on
successful
completion
Technology
Funding
Recipient
Project Name:
Aim:
PV
6
PV Gen 1
Australian
National
University
Next generation SLIVER cells
Transform Solar commercialising ANU’s SLIVER cell technology
to manufacture thin crystalline silicon-based cells and modules.
PV
6
PV Gen 1
Australian
National
University
Local doping using laser chemical
processing technology for advanced
silicon solar cells
Will advance a novel doping method, Laser Chemical Processing
(LCP) technology, to create high efficiency, low cost cells.
PV
6
PV Gen 1
Australian
National
University
Industry ready n-type silicon solar
cells
Will develop industry-ready, high efficiency n-type silicon solar
cells.
PV
6
PV Gen 1
Suntech
Novel texture processes for latest
industrial wafer
Use novel texture processes for multi-crystalline and cast-mono
wafers with manufaturing-compatible tools and processes.
PV
6
PV Gen 1
University of
New South
Wales
Overcoming fundamental
performance limitations of
commercial solar cells
Investigating improvements to device performance and reduced
manufacturing costs while delivering high production yields.
PV
6
PV Gen 2
Bluescope
Steel Limited
Development of new system to
integrate PV solar into building
rooftops
Develop a systematic approach and methodology to optimise the
design configuration and sizing of building integrated photovoltaic
thermal systems.
PV
6
PV Gen 3
Solar
Systems Pty
Ltd
High efficiency, multi-junction solar
cells on low cost large area silicon
substrates
This project proposes to develop next generation triple-junction
solar cells using a ‘virtual germanium-on-silicon’ substrate.
CST
6
CST
Rooftop
Australian
National
University
Roof-mounted hybrid CST system
for distributed generation of heating,
cooling and electricity
To develop and commercialise an improved roof-mounted hybrid
solar concentrator PV/ thermal product.
CST
6
CST1
Granite
Power Ltd
Solar supercritical organic Rankine
Cycle for power and industrial heat
To develop, demonstrate and test a rooftop CST system that
combines GRANEX® technology with Direct Supercritical Fluid
Generation (DSFG).
Enabling
Brisbane
Materials
Technology
Pty Ltd
Pilot scale plant for the production
of solar anti-reflection coatings
Use proprietary anti-reflective coatings at glass/air or plastic/air
interfaces in utility-scale solar energy systems.
PV
7
Sector
TRL on
successful
completion
Technology
Funding
Recipient
Project Name:
Aim:
PV
7
PV Gen 2
UNSW
Next generation crystalline silicon
on glass modules
To reduce the manufacturing costs of a proprietary thin-film
crystalline silicone on glass solar cell technology.
CST
7
CST
Rooftop
Chromasun
Pty Ltd
Lowest LCOE: Australian pilot of
rooftop CST and CPV-T
microconcentrator systems
Aims to establish an Australian pilot manufacturing capability for
the Chromasun Micro-Concentrator (MCT) concentrating solar
thermal product.
CST
7
CST3
CSIRO
Solar air turbine systems
To generate electricity from solar heat and air, ie. without the use
of water.
PV
8
QA/Test
BT Imaging
Pty Ltd
Inline inspection tools for
photovoltaic manufacturing
Development of inspection tools to find micro-cracks in silicon
wafers.
PV
5
Enabling
RayGen
Resources
Pty Ltd
Central receiver CPV pilot project –
Stage 2
Construct and commission 200kW commercial scale pilot plant
using RayGen’s proprietary Central receiver Concentrator
Photovoltaic (C2PVTM) technology.
CST
5
CST3
CSIRO
Solar driven supercritical
CO2 Brayton Cycle
To bring together high efficiency heliostats and receivers to power
a carbon dioxide Brayton Cycle turbine generating electricity.