Australia will be supporting the research and development of ultra low-cost solar energy, a technology that has become a priority in the nation’s bid to reach net zero emissions by 2050. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will allocate $40 million out of its $2.5 billion budget for the program with the eventual hope to reach “Solar 30 30 30″—a goal to create 30 percent solar module efficiency at a cost of 30 cents per watt, all by 2030. This means drastically shaving the cost of solar down to around a third of its current cost, or just $15 per MWh (megawatt-hours)—a price which, according to taxpayer-funded CSIRO, is considerably less than the $100 per MWh figure typically seen for coal and gas power. Importantly, the Australian government is banking on cheaper solar to help drive a technological revolution, with hopes the advancement will cascade into a series of low-emissions …