Australian Renewable Energy Agency
ARENA
1 July 2012 – present
Statutory corporation that funds research, development, demonstration and early commercialisation of renewable energy technologies to improve their competitiveness and increase their supply in Australia.
How it came into existence
Established on 1 July 2012 under the Australian Renewable Energy Agency Act 2011, replacing the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy and consolidating renewable energy programs previously run by the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. It absorbed the Australian Solar Institute on 1 January 2013.
- Emerging Renewables Program
- Renewable Energy Venture Capital Fund
- Renewable energy demonstration and commercialisation grants
- Solar Flagships and other renewable energy grant programs
Legislation: Australian Renewable Energy Agency Act 2011; Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2011
Changes during its life
- 18 September 2013Moved to the Department of Industry portfolio.
- 13 May 2014The 2014–15 Budget proposed abolishing the agency; the abolition was not agreed by the Senate and the agency continued.
- 21 September 2015Moved to the Department of the Environment portfolio.
- 19 July 2016Moved to the Department of the Environment and Energy portfolio.
- 1 February 2020Moved with energy to the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio.
- 1 July 2022Moved to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio.
- Solar research and development funding
- Solar research fellowships
Main functions
- Grant funding for renewable energy research and development
- Funding demonstration and pilot projects
- Support for early-stage commercialisation of renewable technologies
- Knowledge sharing from funded projects
- Advice to government on renewable energy technology
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
- Type of body
- Corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
- Accountable authority
- Board – Australian Renewable Energy Agency Act 2011 sections 7, 17 and 18 with reference to section 38(2) note
- ABN
- 35 931 927 899
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))