Energy Efficient Communities Program

Energy Efficient Communities Program – Small Business Grants provides from $5,000 to $20,000 to small businesses with an annual turnover of less than $10 million per year (based on Business Activity Statements from the previous 12 months) 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.

There is an estimated $9.06 million available for this grant opportunity, with a maximum of three projects funded per electorate.  The grant opportunity opened on 6 July 2020 and closes 26 August 2020 5pm AEST.

The objective is to support small businesses to save energy as follows: 

Replace existing equipment with higher efficiency equipment Install or replace a component/s 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) Carry out on-farm energy audits Carry out monitoring of energy usage and emissions Energy audits Investment feasibility studies for energy efficiency upgrades

Grants will be approved according to meeting eligibility criteria, submission time and date and distribution across federal electoral divisions.

To be eligible an applicant 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

Applications will only be acceptable:

Where you can confirm that you are authorised to 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 includes 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

The eligibility criteria will not be waivered under any circumstances.

 

You are not eligible to apply if you are:

A trust (however an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust) A corporate or non-corporate Commonwealth entity A publicly-funded research organisation Any organisation not included in Section 4.1 of the grant opportunity guidelines.

 

How do you apply?

You should read the key documents, grant opportunity guidelines and sample grant agreement, prepare all other required attachments, including Supplier Declaration to submit with your application, before you apply.

To apply, you must submit your application through the online portal.  You’ll need to set up an account when you first log into the portal. The portal allows you to apply for and manage a grant or service in a secure online environment.