Advancing Renewables Program

Advancing Renewables Program

Supports Australia's renewable energy development with demonstration and pre commercial deployment pathways for industry.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency's Advancing Renewables Program is ARENA's perpetual, continuously open funding vehicle for renewable energy projects at the development, demonstration, and pre-commercial deployment stages. The program operates without fixed application rounds or closing dates, accepting submissions year-round through ARENA's ARENANet online portal. It spans ARENA's five strategic priorities — ultra-low-cost solar, the transition to a renewable electricity system, clean hydrogen commercialisation, low-emissions metals production, and transport decarbonisation — making it the broadest-scope vehicle in ARENA's portfolio.

Eligible applicants include for-profit businesses, universities, nonprofits, and research organisations, provided the project increases renewable energy supply or improves the competitiveness of renewables within Australia. Individual applicants are not eligible. Award sizes are not published as a fixed cap; ARENA calibrates funding to project scope on a case-by-case basis after reviewing the application. The standard process is two-stage: applicants first submit an Expression of Interest, and only those invited by ARENA proceed to a Full Application. Single-stage direct applications are permitted only with ARENA's prior written approval.

ARENAs program guidelines strongly advise prospective applicants to engage with ARENA's investment team before submitting an EOI. This pre-submission conversation shapes the proposal and reduces the risk of proceeding with an approach that does not align with ARENA's current investment priorities. Applicants must register on ARENANet before any submission. Assessment focuses on the project's ability to reduce costs or barriers for renewable energy in Australia, the quality of the team, and the project's capacity to generate knowledge spillovers that benefit the broader sector.