New grantS and other opportunities

Energy briefing update - June 2021

The past quarter has seen the addition of several new grants and programs that are relevant to businesses, including Green Industries SA’s Resource Efficiency and Productivity (REAP) grant that offers a 50 per cent subsidy for a resource efficiency and productivity assessment, to a maximum of $10,000. We also don’t want you to miss out on the grants and programs that are closing soon, such as applications for on-farm energy assessments under the Victorian Government’s Agriculture Energy Investment Plan that are open until 15 July 2021.

Browse the latest grants and other support available to business from government below:

• National;

• Australian Capital Territory;

• New South Wales;

• Northern Territory;

• South Australia;

• Queensland;

• Victoria; and

• Western Australia.

Click here to return to the second edition of the energy briefing update.

Innovation Connections Grant

Innovation Connections assists businesses in growth sectors to understand their research needs, connect with the research sector and fund collaborative research projects. Through this program businesses may be supported to perform research for improving their products, processes and services.

Learn more here.

Industrial Energy Transformation Studies Program

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) recently announced the upcoming launch of the $43 million Industrial Energy Transformation Studies Program, aimed at identifying opportunities to reduce energy costs and emissions in the industrial sector.

The first round of the program will see up to $25 million of grant funding being made available to support feasibility and engineering studies to establish the business case for replicable projects that demonstrate energy efficiency and decarbonisation technology solutions for industry.

Learn more here.

Business Energy and Water Program

The ACT Government is offering rebates of up to $5,000 to eligible businesses wanting to upgrade to more water-efficient and energy-efficient technologies through its Business Energy and Water Program. The ACT Government will cover half the cost (up to $5,000) of upgrades to more sustainable systems for lighting, appliances, heating or cooling, refrigeration, insulating, toilets and tapware.

Learn more here.

Renewable Energy Innovation Fund

Renewable Energy Innovation Fund (REIF) seeks to provide flexible, early-stage funding to support a broad range of new and emerging technologies and ventures with the potential to deliver on the energy vision of the future.

The new Clean Tech co-funding scheme will be funded through the REIF and will allow opportunities for the REIF to opportunistically co-fund clean technology research, development and deployment projects.

Applications for the Clean Tech co-funding scheme are accepted at any time and assessed on a rolling basis and will remain open until available funding has been exhausted.

Learn more here.

Regional Job Creation Fund

Businesses that want to expand or relocate their operations to regional NSW may be eligible for funding under the NSW Government’s Regional Job Creation Fund.

The fund provides co-funding for projects that create five or more sustainable jobs within regional NSW, including those that replace, upgrade, or adapt existing plant or equipment, including technology or energy efficiency upgrades.

Preliminary applications closed Friday 14 May 2021. The detailed application stage closes Friday 25 June 2021 or when program funding is fully allocated. Businesses must belong to an eligible industry depending on their region.

Learn more here.

Smart Distributed Batteries Project

With the support of NSW Government funding, SolarHub’s Smart Distributed Batteries Project will develop a 6 megawatt Virtual Power Plant (VPP). A VPP is a network of distributed solar and battery systems that work together to supply power to the grid when it is needed most. SolarHub is offering a point of sale discount to approximately 650 residential and small business customers from eligible Council areas to encourage battery installation, with customers required to join the VPP to receive the discount.

Learn more here.

Adelaide’s Sustainability Incentives Scheme

The City of Adelaide provides financial incentives for sustainable technology installation in apartments, houses and commercial buildings, to improve energy and water performance. This can have the added benefit of reducing costs, cutting carbon emissions and increasing the value of the property.

Several rebates are available to be claimed through the Sustainability Incentives Scheme before 30 June 2021.

Learn more here.

Free small business assessments in Adelaide

The City of Adelaide is offering free energy assessments to 50 small businesses in the accommodation, food services and retail sectors to assist with reducing energy costs. Businesses are then eligible for 80 per cent rebate, up to a maximum of $5,000, to cover the implementation of the energy saving opportunities outlined in the energy assessment report.

At the time of publishing, there are less than 15 spots available.

Learn more here.

Transition your business to the circular economy with assistance from Resource Efficiency and Productivity (REAP) grants. This grant offers a 50 per cent subsidy for a resource efficiency and productivity assessment, to a maximum of $10,000. An additional $10,000 is available on successful completion of a Green Industries SA approved assessment to kick-start implementation of the recommendations.

REAP is taking expressions of interest for 2021-22.

Learn more here.

Statewide EV public charging network

The South Australian Government is now seeking proposals from prospective site owners and tenants to host public electric vehicle charging services. The South Australian Government is investing up to $13.4 million to leverage private investment in the network, with potential sites including shopping centres, hotels, town centres and more.

Register your interest and submit a proposal before 2 August 2021.

Learn more here.

The Agriculture Energy Investment Plan is open to farmers and businesses whose primary operation is in the agriculture sector. The plan outlines the Victorian Government’s commitment to partnering with industry to build a more resilient, energy efficient and internationally competitive agriculture sector, and includes energy assessments – to understand where energy efficiency improvements can be made – and rebates and grants – for equipment to improve farm energy efficiency.

The plan provides $30 million to support enhancements to energy efficiency and energy productivity, helping to boost competitiveness and protect local jobs.

Applications for on-farm energy assessments are available until 15 July 2021, with applications for on-farm energy grants and rebate are open until 15 December 2021.

Learn more here.

Energy Innovation Fund

The Victorian Government has developed the Energy Innovation Fund to support the commercialisation of innovative, emerging renewable energy technologies in Victoria required to meet its target of net zero emissions by 2050.

The Fund is being delivered in multiple rounds. Round 2 pre-applications closed on 8 April 2021, with full applications anticipated to open in August 2021.

Learn more here.

Small Business Energy Saver Program

The Small Business Energy Saver Program provides a bonus for Victorian small businesses with 19 FTE employees or less of up to $2000 to install energy-efficient business equipment at their workplace. The bonus is in addition to the energy efficiency upgrade discounts through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program.

Learn more here.

Solar for Business Program

The Victorian Government has introduced the Solar for Business Program to support small businesses to reduce their energy costs by accessing the benefits of renewable energy.  This initiative will bring down energy bills for small businesses by reducing the upfront cost of the installation, with rebates covering up to 50 per cent of the cost of a rooftop solar system with small businesses eligible for a maximum rebate of $3,500. 

Learn more here.

Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) Subsidy

The Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) Subsidy is available to Victorian businesses (with premises in the state) for the purchase of up to two eligible vehicles from 2 May 2021 for three years or until the rebates are fully committed, whichever occurs sooner.

Learn more here.

Smarter Business Solutions program

The Smarter Business Solutions program provides funding up to $20,000 for NT businesses to help improve their energy, waste and water efficiency and reduce their costs.

Learn more here.

Home and Business Battery Scheme

The Northern Territory Government’s 2021-22 Budget allocated $2.8 million extend the Home and Business Battery Scheme which provides homeowners and businesses with grants of up to $6,000 to help fund the purchase of solar PV and battery storage systems.

Learn more here.

Energex Positive Payback

The Energex Positive Payback for business program provides eligible south east Queensland businesses with financial support to upgrade a wide range of appliances, equipment and processes to improve energy efficiency.

Learn more here.

Energex PeakSmart air conditioning program 

The Energex PeakSmart air conditioning program provides south east Queensland businesses, builders, developers, retailers and tradies with financial incentives of up to $400 for purchasing and installing a PeakSmart air conditioner or converting an existing air conditioner to PeakSmart.

Learn more here.

Net Zero Emission Mining Challenge

The Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) Challenge aims to reduce the carbon footprint, lower energy costs and improve the energy efficiency of the Western Australian mining sector. A total of up to $1 million in MRIWA co-funding is available for research projects that align with MRIWA’s Research Priority Plan and address an emissions-related challenge or issue in the Western Australian mining sector.

Applications are due by Wednesday 7 July 2021.

Learn more here.

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About Navigating a dynamic energy landscape

There is an enormous amount of information on energy in the public domain, yet it can be hard for business leaders to extract what matters for their businesses.

Navigating a dynamic energy landscape: a briefing for Australian businesses is an executive-level briefing designed to cut through the noise and help businesses confidently navigate Australia’s dynamic energy landscape.

The sector spotlights and other resources that accompany the briefing exist to support this aim.

This initiative is delivered by the Energy Efficiency Council with the support of industry and the NSW Department of Industry, Planning and Environment.

To learn more visit energybriefing.org.au.