The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has unveiled an $11 million funding commitment to support SunDrive Solar, an Australian solar technology firm, in the expansion of its solar cell metallisation technology.
In a news release, ARENA said this expansion will see the technology progress from prototype scale (1.5 MW/yr) to commercial capacity (>100 MW/yr).
The company’s technology replaces the commonly used silver in solar cell metallisation with copper, a significantly cheaper and more abundant material.
To date, ARENA reported that silver is responsible for nearly half the cost of converting a bare silicon wafer into a finished solar cell.
Solar manufacturing consumes approximately 25 per cent of the world’s annual industrial silver consumption.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said it was vital to support homegrown innovation to further reduce the cost of solar.
“To make ultra low-cost solar a reality, it is crucial that our scientists and researchers keep innovating and improving solar cells and module design,” he said.
Miller added, “SunDrive’s technology that replaces silver with copper is a potential game changer and highlights why now is the time to invest in technologies for our future economic success.”
Replacing silver with copper could significantly contribute to scaling up solar manufacturing while aligning with global efforts to achieve net-zero emissions.
By combining these advantages, SunDrive aims to produce one of the world’s most advanced solar modules at an installed price 20 to 30 per cent lower than other high-efficiency solar modules on the market.
The company said it plans to accelerate the development of its copper-plated solar PV technology to achieve a commercial-scale production capacity of over 100 MW/yr of metallised cells.
ARENA’s continued support has enabled SunDrive, an Australian-founded company, to compete with the world’s largest solar PV firms and develop the world’s most efficient commercial-sized solar cell.
By supporting SunDrive, ARENA said it aims to contribute to Australia’s position as a renewable energy manufacturing leader, showcasing the nation’s potential in advanced solar innovation and aiding its emissions reduction objectives.
Miller concluded, “It’s exciting to see SunDrive take the next step towards market entry. ARENA has supported the company for a number of years now and we’re delighted to continue our support to see Sundrive become a key player in our emissions reduction aims.”
