Applications for $43 million industrial energy study grants to open next month

Grants will open on July 6 for an Australian Renewable Energy Agency-administered program aimed at identifying opportunities to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions.

The $43 million Industrial Energy Transformation Studies Program was announced in the May federal budget, and its first round — budgeted at $25 million — will support feasibility and engineering studies for energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects.

Eligible industries are agriculture, mining, manufacturing, gas and water supply, waste services and data centres.

According to ARENA, grants will support studies on solutions delivering “transformational improvement in energy efficiency or greenhouse gas emissions and also share knowledge that can lead to replication across similar industry settings.”

“We’re looking for studies into projects with significant emissions reduction potential, replicability and backed with strong corporate ambition that can provide a pathway to Australia achieving the Government’s low emissions objective,” said ARENA CEO Darren Miller in a statement.

“We believe that Australian industry is ready to take the next step in creating ideas and knowledge that will position Australia for a low carbon future.”

Round 1A grants of between $100,000 and $500,000 will be available for feasibility studies, covering up to 75 per cent. 

Round 1B grants of $250,000 to $5 million for engineering studies under the program will cover up to 50 per cent of project costs.

Applications will open July 6, with online information sessions for the two rounds to be held the following week.

Eligibility information can be seen here.

Picture: Illawarra Mercury

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