Applicants can apply for first round grants of up to a maximum of $5 million for applied research and $1 million for basic research grants. Doctoral or postdoctoral awards may be given as part of the research program. A priority outcome for the research is to reduce the cost of deploying solar technologies, making them more competitive with other stationary energy sources.
The ASI was established in early 2009 through the allocation of $100 million from the Federal Government’s Energy Innovation Fund. With national headquarters located in Newcastle, New South Wales, the ASI will support Australian researchers through a competitive grants program designed to encourage any Australian researcher in solar PV and concentrating solar thermal technologies to apply for funding, including researchers from the public and private sectors.
Former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Jennifer Goddard was appointed as Chair of the ASI board in August, along with other board members, allowing the ASI to become incorporated.
Draft guidelines and eligibility criteria for the competitive grants program have been developed and were presented to stakeholders earlier this year, following which, interested parties were asked to prepare preliminary information on project proposals. The ASI has reported an overwhelmingly positive response from interested parties.
Article continues below…Applications for the first round of the program close on 16 October 2009.
