Energy agency makes own changes

A key renewable energy agency says its new priorities were not imposed by the government.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) on Tuesday announced five priorities for new investment and a new, streamlined funding program structure.

A spokeswoman told AAP the new priority areas were not issued by the Abbott government but rather had been a long time in development by the agency itself.

To date, ARENA has invested $1.1 billion in 230 renewable energy projects, with each funding dollar leveraging close to two dollars of funding from other sources.

The new structure will make it easier to apply for funding and cut red tape.

The agency is proposing a new large-scale solar auction for projects totalling about 200 megawatts, with between $80 million and $100 million support from ARENA.