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The AUD$100 million Australian Solar Institute has been launched by Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson.

The Institute, at the CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle, News South Wales, will pursue research in photovoltaics and concentrating solar thermal technologies, aiming to make them more cost competitive.

“The Government believes cost competitiveness is achievable and that solar power is a commercially viable energy option for the Australian community,” said Ferguson.

Initially the Australian Government is giving the Institute AUD$15 million to fund three projects:

• AUD$5 million crystalline silicon pilot line at the University of New South Wales:
• AUD$5 million solar thermal power at CSIRO in Newcastle;
• AUD$5 million solar research facility at the Australian National University in Canberra.

For further information:
www.ret.gov.au/energy/energy%20programs/energy_innovation_fund/australian_solar_insitute/Pages/AustralianSolarInstitute.aspx