Solar Flagships and Energy Efficiency
Solar Flagships
The Government will invest $1.5 billion over six years in a new Solar Flagships program. The program will aim to establish an additional 1,000 megawatts of solar electricity generation capacity in Australia. This is similar to the generation capacity of a coal‑fired power station, and three times the size of the world's largest operating solar energy project.
The Solar Flagships program will be used to demonstrate a range of solar technologies, including solar thermal and solar photovoltaic, by developing up to four individual generation facilities within the national grid. The specific technologies to be employed will be based on a competitive assessment.
This investment will help accelerate the development, demonstration and deployment of promising solar energy technologies, whilst also building skills and capacity in the solar industry.
Together with the existing $100 million Australian Solar Institute, the new Solar Flagships program will develop Australia's potential to become a world leader in large‑scale solar electricity generation.
National Energy Efficiency Initiative
In addition to the Clean Energy Initiative, the Government will provide a $100 million grant for the National Energy Efficiency Initiative.
The goal is to create an energy network in one location that integrates a 'smart grid' with 'smart meters' in homes. This leading‑edge project will be of sufficient scale to demonstrate best practice and inform national roll‑outs and government policy. This will enable greater energy efficiency, reduced emissions and use of alternative energy sources such as solar power.
