Solar research gets a charge

UNSW's world-leading solar cell research has received a boost with a $4 million grant to further develop high-efficiency silicon solar cell technology.

The Australian Solar Institute (ASI), which was established by the federal government last year to support solar energy research and development in Australia, has awarded $3.97 million to UNSW in its first round of grants.

Head of the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, Dr Richard Corkish, said the funding was valuable support for the advancement of solar technologies in Australia.

"This will help us take our world-leading silicon solar cell technologies from the laboratory to the factory," he said.

UNSW is a foundation member of the ASI and in 2009 received $5 million towards the establishment of the Solar Industrial Research Facility, a state-of-the-art production line for silicon solar cells to be built on the Kensington campus this year.

UNSW Media Office: Peter Trute | 02 9385 1933 | p.trute@unsw.edu.au