The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has today (Aug 12) committed up to $3.96 million to support Lab 360 Solar, a University of New South Wales (UNSW) start-up, in developing and trialling a drone-based solar inspection technology that could transform the way large-scale solar farms are monitored.
Supported through the Advancing Renewables Program, Lab360's project will advance its Daylight Photoluminescence (DPL) imaging technology, using aerial drones to capture high resolution images during the day. This helps identify faults and damage in solar panels, right down to individual cells, that other inspection methods often miss. It's also more accurate, cheaper and easier to use than traditional approaches, which usually require more equipment, people and off-site testing.
Originally developed at the UNSW through a previous ARENA-funded R&D project, DPL technology offers a scalable and cost-effective alternative to existing methods.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said Lab360 is a perfect example of the innovation in the solar industry ARENA is seeking to support and emphasised the importance of backing new ideas and technologies.
"Australia has world-class solar researchers and start-ups, but too often their technologies struggle to make the leap from lab to market. Supporting great ideas, like Lab360's DPL technology, to prove their value and scale as commercial solutions that benefit the whole industry, is exactly why we back innovative R&D and why investing early is key to achieving our Ultra Low-Cost Solar vision," Mr Miller said.
"This technology has the potential to significantly reduce the cost and complexity of solar farm diagnostics. By spotting issues early and reducing the need for heavy equipment and associated labour, this innovation helps operators get the most out of their solar panels and supports Australia's clean energy future."
Lab360 CEO Thorsten Trupke said the financial support from ARENA was vital in getting Lab360 off the ground and ensuring its innovations can be transitioned from proof-of-concept demonstration, into fully operational commercial solutions.
"Our drone-based Daylight Photoluminescence technology is a result of more than two decades of systematic research and development into luminescence imaging at UNSW. Once rolled out commercially, first in Australia and then globally, it will be central to ensuring that photovoltaic panels are a reliable and sustainable cornerstone of the future energy mix, by enabling better monitoring, early fault detection and long-term performance of solar assets."
"Australia, with its world-leading adoption of solar power and its ambitious trajectory towards net zero, is the perfect place to pioneer and commercialise this innovation. We are genuinely excited to play a small part in the incredible energy transition that is currently taking place."
The project continues ARENA's support of Australian innovation in the solar PV industry. ARENA has provided over $388 million to over 200 solar research and development projects since 2009, through funding programs inherited from the Australian Solar Institute or delivered by ARENA since 2012.
ARENA will continue to support big ideas and back breakthroughs that power Australia's clean energy future. Read more about our Ultra Low-Cost Solar priority.
About the ULCS R&D Funding Round
ARENA is continuing its support for research and development (R&D) and commercialisation of Australian solar PV, with a new $60 million funding round to push innovation and take solar to ultra low-cost levels. ARENA's ULCS goal is to achieve a levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) for utility-scale solar PV of under $20 per MWh.
We are seeking proposals from a broad range of Applicants including, but not limited to, Australian universities and research groups and innovative businesses to accelerate cost reductions and meet ARENA's ULCS LCOE goal.
Applications are currently open and close 21 October 2025.
Apply for funding through the ULCS R&D Funding Round.
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