Deadline: 26-Aug-20
The Australian Government is seeking applications for the Energy Efficient Communities Program – Small Business Grants 2020.
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.
This grant opportunity is for small businesses with an annual turnover of less than $10 million per year based on Business Activity Statements from the previous 12 months.
Objectives
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
Outcomes
The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are:
- improved energy efficiency leading to reduced greenhouse gas emissions from small businesses
- increased awareness amongst small business owners of how to improve their energy efficiency
- reduced energy costs for small businesses.
Funding Information
- 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
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
- They 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
- 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
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
For more information, visit https://www.business.gov.au/Grants-and-Programs/Energy-Efficient-Communities-Program-Small-Business
