CCIQ ecoBiz is now Business Chamber Queensland ecoBiz

Energy Efficient Communities Program 2020

The Energy Efficient Communities Program will deliver $40 million in grants to help community groups and businesses lower their energy bills and reduce emissions.

What is the aim of the program?
To help businesses and community organisations save energy and lower bills through:

  • equipment upgrades that reduce energy consumption
  • investment in energy and emissions monitoring and management systems to better manage energy use
  • completion of energy systems assessments according to the Australian Standard or feasibility studies to investigate energy efficiency opportunities
  • for community organisations only, energy generation and storage projects (for example, solar PV panels, batteries and solar hot water)

Who is it for and when do applications open?

The Business Stream has 3 rounds:

  • Applications for the dairy farming business round opened on 22 June 2020 and close on 17 August 2020. (See below for more details).
  • Applications for the small business round opened on 6 July 2020 and close on 26 August 2020. 
  • Applications for the high energy-using businesses round open shortly.

The Community Organisations Stream opened on 2 April 2020 and closed on 18 May 2020.

How much are the grants?

  • Small businesses and dairy farming businesses can apply for a grant of up to $20,000 with no co-contribution required.
  • High energy-using businesses will be able to apply for a grant of up to $25,000 with a matching co-contribution required.
  • Community organisations could apply for a grant of up to $12,500 with no co-contribution required.

Who is eligible?
Business Stream – eligible applicants will be:

  • licensed dairy farming businesses,
  • small businesses turning over less than $10 million a year,
  • high energy-using businesses consuming over 0.05 petajoules a year.

Eligible activities include:

  • Equipment upgrades that reduce energy consumption (excluding solar generators and batteries),
  • Investment in monitoring systems to better manage energy use,
  • Energy audits or energy-efficiency investment feasibility studies.

For more information, and to apply, click here.

Energy Efficient Communities Program – Dairy Farming Business Grants

The Energy Efficient Communities Program – Dairy Farming Business Grants provides dairy farming businesses with grants of up to $20,000 to improve energy efficiency, reduce energy costs and lower on-farm emissions. Grants may be used for equipment replacement, component upgrades, energy audits or feasibility studies. 

Close date: 17 Aug 2020 05:00 PM AEST.

Please find more information and eligibility criteria here.

Funding Factsheet From QFF

Please see the Energy Savers Fact Sheet for details on finance and funding options for energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives. View full fact sheet here.

Energex

Positive Payback for business for energy efficiency projects such as:

  • Building Management Systems (BMS) and Demand Management Systems (DMS)
  • Hot water and steam
  • HVAC
  • Lifts and elevators
  • Lighting
  • Motors
  • Power factor correction
  • Refrigeration

Positive Payback

Local Government

Brisbane City Council

Sustainability Grants for Non-Profits

Cairns Regional Council

Community Sustainability Grant for Non-Profits

The Eco Efficiency Group

The Eco Efficiency Group also have a great blog on funding options including:

  • Loans
  • Leases
  • On-bill financing, and
  • Agreements

How to Fund Your Energy Project