The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) on Saturday announced the opening of the first phase of the AUD-1-billion (USD 680m/EUR 613m) Solar Sunshot programme, which was unveiled <a href="https://renewablesnow.com/news/australia-announces-usd-650m-programme-to-back-solar-manufacturing-853058/" target="_blank">in March</a> to aid the development of a solar manufacturing industry in the country.