Provides small and medium businesses up to $25,000 to upgrade or replace inefficient equipment and implement other energy efficiency activities.

The program assists businesses to lower their energy use and improve their energy efficiency. It will also contribute to easing energy price fluctuations for businesses.

The objectives of the program are to:

• Improve energy efficiency practices and increase the uptake of energy efficient technologies
• Assist small and medium businesses to manage their energy usage and costs
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The intended outcomes of the program are:

• Increased awareness of energy efficiency opportunities and help businesses to save energy
• Reduced power bills for small and medium businesses
• Emissions abatement to contribute to Australia reducing its emissions to 43% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Up to $41.2 million will be available in grants to help businesses fund a range of energy efficiency activities, such as:

• Upgrading or replacing inefficient technologies, such as changing existing display fridge cabinets with more efficient models, or gas cookers with electric equivalents.
• Improving space and water heating systems
• Conducting energy audits
• Installing energy monitoring systems.

What do you get?

• Grants from $10,000 to $25,000 to cover up to 100% of eligible project expenditure
• Grant funding will be distributed between states and territories based on the distribution of small and medium sized businesses nationally
• This is a demand driven grant opportunity. Grants will be awarded to eligible applicants on a first come, first served basis until the funding is exhausted in each jurisdiction.

Who is this for?

• This grant opportunity is for small and medium sized businesses with an employee headcount of 1 to 199 employees, and businesses must have been in operation for a minimum of 24 months.

Round 2 applications in each state and territory will open for applications over 5 consecutive business days, starting from Thursday 22 February 2024. Opening dates vary based on location.

Location and application opening date:

• VIC: Thursday, 22 February 2024
• SA: Friday, 23 February 2024
• NT: Friday, 23 February 2024
• NSW: Monday, 26 February 2024
• WA: Tuesday, 27 February 2024
• TAS: Tuesday, 27 February 2024
• ACT: Tuesday, 27 February 2024
• QLD: Wednesday, 28 February 2024.

You can review the businesses/projects that were successful in Round 1 by clicking here.

All details can be viewed online including what you need to prepare to apply - click here.

Smith Thornton subscribes to a grant search provider and can help you prepare your grant application. If you have any questions our Business Services Advisor Jenna van Nierop will be happy to assist. You can email her at jennav@smiththornton.com.au or call her on 9842 5155.