If Australia can kickstart a viable solar industry, the country could take better advantage of the talent and research knowhow in Australia to begin building next-generation cells, and unlock other parts of the green economy, write Brett Hallam and Fiacre Rougieux from the UNSW Sydney.

“Cheap and plentiful solar power could make it viable to crack water to make green hydrogen or make green steel and aluminium,” they add.

“Many initiatives have to be set in train now to gain the benefits in five or ten years’ time. […] But in a sun-drenched country, it makes sense to aim for the skies.”