Funding for small businesses to improve energy efficiency, reduce costs and lower energy consumption

The Energy Efficient Communities Program – Small Business Grants provides small businesses with grants of up to $20,000 to improve their energy efficiency. Grants may be used for equipment and component improvements, energy audits, feasibility studies and/or energy use and emission monitoring.

The objective of this grant opportunity is to support small businesses to save energy through:

• replace existing equipment with higher efficiency equipment
• install or replace a component/s to help an existing system run more efficiently
• carry out energy audits
• carry out monitoring of energy usage and emissions

There is an estimated $9.06 million available for this grant opportunity, with a maximum of three projects funded per electorate. We expect that there will be a high level of interest for this grant opportunity and it will likely be oversubscribed. This means an eligible application will not automatically be approved. We will approve grants according to meeting eligibility criteria, submission time and date and distribution across federal electoral divisions.

• The maximum grant amount is $20,000
• The maximum project period is 18 months

You can use your grant for one or more of the following:

• replacing existing equipment with higher efficiency equipment
• installing or replacing a component to help an existing system run more efficiently (for example installing a variable speed drive on a pump, or installing automatic controls on energy using equipment, or installing a modulating burner on a boiler)
• energy audits
• investment feasibility studies for energy efficiency upgrades
• monitoring of energy consumption and emissions

What are the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible you must:

• have an Australian business number (ABN)
• have an annual turnover of less than $10 million based on Business Activity Statements from the previous 12 months

and be one of the following entities:

• a company incorporated in Australia
• a co-operative
• a partnership
• a sole trader

We can only accept applications:

• where you can confirm that you are authorised undertake your project as described (for example, within your leasing arrangements)
• where you can demonstrate that you will use appropriately licensed tradespeople to install equipment, where applicable
• that include a supplier declaration (see template at Appendix C of the grant opportunity guidelines)
• that provide the mandatory attachments
• where you certify, if you have ceased operating as a result of bushfires or COVID-19, that you intend to resume operating as a business in the future

We can’t waive the eligibility criteria under any circumstances.

How do you apply?

Energy Efficient Communities Program – Small Business Grants is currently closed to applications.