Last Friday (October 4th), the United States and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to fostering the development of clean solar PV supply chains. This collaborative effort aims to capitalize on the investments and synergistic resources of both countries’ solar industries.

During a meeting between Jennifer Granholm, the US Secretary for Energy, and Chris Bowen, Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, in Brazil, both countries expressed their commitment to enhancing collaboration in various energy technologies. This includes strengthening cooperation in solar PV supply chains, energy storage, and other areas of mutual interest.

To explore the viability of establishing a comprehensive solar supply chain, the ministers announced their plans to initiate and share findings from techno-economic market studies on the solar industry. This includes examining polysilicon processing and trade. The collaboration will leverage the expertise and resources of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the US Department of Energy (DOE), and the Australia-US Clean Energy Industry Council.

This marks the most recent advancement in the joint efforts of the two countries to establish sustainable solar supply chains. PV Tech, our affiliated website, reported on September 23rd that the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, also known as the ‘Quad’, unveiled the inaugural phase of the Quad Clean Energy Supply Chains Diversification Program in Australia. Scheduled to commence in November 2024, the program will concentrate on solar PV, battery energy storage, and electrolysers.

An AU$50 million (US$34 million) initiative has been launched to support research and development projects as well as feasibility studies aimed at fostering diverse supply chains for solar PV, hydrogen electrolyser, and battery technologies. The program will provide grants to facilitate the advancement of these sectors and promote innovation in the Australian energy landscape.