Solar Flagships Program: Round 1
The Solar Flagships program is part of the Australian Government’s $4.5 billion Clean Energy Initiative announced in the May 2009 Budget. The Government has committed $1.5 billion to the Solar Flagships program to support the construction and demonstration of up to four large scale solar power plants in Australia using solar thermal and photovoltaic (PV) technologies. The Government’s aim is to establish up to 1000 megawatts of solar power generation capacity.
Program Opening:
On 11 December 2009, the Minister for Resources and Energy, the Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP, launched the Solar Flagships program and opened the program for proposals.
Project selection is to occur over two selection rounds. The first selection round (Round 1) will be held in 2010 and is to select one solar thermal and one photovoltaic project, with a target of 400 MW of combined generation capacity across both projects. The second selection round (Round 2) is planned to be held in 2013-14, following a review of the outcome of Round 1.
For the full announcement, please see the Ministers media release titled “Solar Flagships Program Now Open For Business”.
Round 1 Project Selection:
There is a two stage selection process for Round 1. The first selection stage opened with a call for proposals by the Minister for Resources and Energy. Proposals must be lodged with the Department by 5.00pm on Monday 15 February 2010.
Those applicants who are short-listed in the first stage will be invited to submit full applications for the second stage of assessment. Short-listed applicants will be notified of the second selection stage timings.
Applicants for both stages must complete the Solar Flagships Program Proposal Form 
[DOC, 497KB].
Selection Process Documents:
Potential applicants will need to familiarise themselves with the selection documentation for Round 1. Of particular importance to applicants is the Solar Flagships Program Round 1 Information Guide for Applicants (the Information Guide) - Corrected 
[PDF, 282KB] which provides detailed information and guidance to applicants on how to apply for the program and how to demonstrate their eligibility and the merit of their projects. It also explains the Solar Flagships program’s governance framework outlined in the Solar Flagships Program Administrative Guidelines - Corrected [PDF 477KB].
The Information Guide includes references to the Eligible Expenditure Guidelines [PDF, 47KB] and the draft Solar Flagships Program Funding Deed of Agreement[PDF, 255KB].
Important: Please note that a technical problem caused errors in the Administrative Guidelines and the Information Guide posted on this webpage on Friday 11 December 2009. Potential applicants that have downloaded these documents prior to 23 December 2009 should download the corrected versions that are now on this web page.
Proposal lodgement details:
Applicants wishing to lodge a proposal under the Solar Flagships program should refer to the Lodgement Process [DOC, 456KB] which provides assistance in relation to how a proposal should be lodged with the Department on and before 15 February 2010. This document also provides guidance on how to label and structure electronic files to facilitate easy reference during proposal assessments.
Solar Flagships Applicant Workshop:
A workshop on the Solar Flagships program was held for potential applicants in Canberra on 27 January 2010. Presentation slides from the workshop can be obtained below:
In the event that there is a perceived or real inconsistency between the presentations and the program’s Selection Process Documentation above, the Selection Process Documents will take precedence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Queries on the Solar Flagships program should be sent via email to Solar.Flagships@ret.gov.au. Frequently asked questions and answers are now posted on this website and will be updated on a regular basis. Stakeholders should consult this website in the first instance to see if it addresses a particular question prior to contacting the Solar Flagships team.
Solar Flagships – Frequently Asked Questions [DOC, 135KB] – last updated 8 February 2010.
State and Territory Government Contacts:
It is a requirement for the Solar Flagships program that all applicants must provide evidence that their proposed project is endorsed by the state or territory governments governing the jurisdictions in which the project is proposed to be built. Contact details for state and territory governments are available on the following page.
Enquiries:
Any queries applicants may have regarding the Round 1 selection process, including questions in relation to the research infrastructure component and the Education Investment Fund (EIF), should be directed to the Solar Flagships team by email to solar.flagships@ret.gov.au or to the Solar Flagships Program Manager on (02) 6213 7780.
Please note that only information communicated to applicants from the Solar Flagships program email address or posted on this webpage will be considered definitive for the purposes of communication with applicants.