Grants and incentives – what's new and what's closing soon?
Energy briefing update – September 2022
Q3 of 2022 has seen more subsidies and rebates for electric and zero emission vehicles and chargers for household and business use. These incentives are now available in the NT in addition to NSW, SA and VIC.
There are several ongoing energy-focussed subsidies and grants available to businesses, as well as some new ones released in the last months including and support in NSW for non-residential buildings to measure energy use and upgrade buildings.
Browse these and other support available to business from government below:
national
ends june 2023 – ATO’s temporary full expensing tax incentive
The temporary full expensing tax depreciation incentive provides businesses with an unprecedented opportunity to immediately deduct the full cost of eligible assets and to make improvements to existing depreciating assets.
Businesses can leverage these tax incentives to make strategic investments that drive major productivity improvements in their operations, the kind of changes that may not have been feasible without the savings from these measures.
Learn more here.
ends december – ARENA’S Future Fuels Program
The Australian Government’s Future Fuels initiative, recently expanded with a further $177.7 million, has reopened with a dedicated program to shift fleet operators to zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs). The focus of the grant is to support the integration of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) into light and heavy vehicle fleets, and commercialising hydrogen as a transport fuel.
Learn more here.
ends THIS MONTH – Business Energy Advice Program (BEAP)
BEAP is a free energy advisory program for small businesses – 6-20 employees, or 0-20 employees for businesses that have been adversely affected by drought – across Australia.
The program delivers face-to-face and phone consultations, helping businesses to discover industry-specific energy saving opportunities. BEAP has delivered 15,000 consultations to businesses across Australia since 2019. The program ends 30 September 2022, so book in a consultation today before it's too late.
Find out more here.
ACT
Business Energy and Water Program
The ACT Government's Business Energy and Water Program provides ACT small businesses – meaning those with up to 20 employees – with rebates of up to $5,000 to help them with the costs of upgrading to more energy-efficient and water-efficient technologies and equipment.
Find out more here.
Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme
The ACT Government introduced the Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme to place a requirement on electricity retailers to achieve energy savings in households and small-to-medium businesses. Since its introduction, the scheme has delivered over 1.3 million energy saving products to around 74,000 ACT households and businesses.
Learn more here.
Next Generation Energy Storage
The ACT Government's Next Generation Energy Storage program provides rebates for battery storage systems. For businesses, the rebate is $35,000 (excluding GST) or 33% of the battery price (excluding GST) – whichever is lowest. To be eligible for funding, your business will need to be connected to the electricity grid, be coupled with solar panels, and include a new or existing inverter that meets the requirements.
Find out more here.
NEW - Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Business Fleet Advisory Service ACT
If you’re an ACT-based business or community organisation that operates a vehicle fleet, you can access free and independent support to assist in transitioning to zero-emission vehicles (ZEV). The Service provides accurate and targeted information, materials and advice to support, inspire and steer businesses on their ZEV journey.
New South Wales
New – Building Upgrade Finance NSW
Building Upgrade Finance NSW is a unique finance product that assists building owners with environmental upgrades to non-residential buildings. If you own a non-residential property in participating local government areas (LGAs), you can access financing to upgrade its energy efficiency, add renewable energy generation, and more.
Energy Savings Scheme (ESS)
The ESS provides financial incentives for households and businesses to become energy efficient by cutting electricity and gas use.
Most businesses are eligible for the program and can upgrade lighting, heating and cooling systems, refrigeration systems and other equipment upgrades.
Learn more here.
INCENTIVES FOR SWITCHING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Rebates of $3,000 are available from the NSW Government for the first 25,000 new batteries for electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles purchased for less than $68,750, inclusive of GST. This applies only to cars registered any time after 1 September 2021.
Businesses will also benefit from stamp duty removal and savings in running costs of up to $7,500 a year by switching to an EV.
You can apply here.
New – Submetering Grants
Do you spend a minimum of $200,000 a year on energy bills? This program aims to help NSW businesses purchase and install new submeters to measure energy performance by offering subsidies up to $20,000.
Learn more here.
Sustainable Water Partner Program
Businesses can use a significant amount of energy for heating water. Companies in Ballina, Byron, Lismore and Richmond Valley local government areas are eligible for a rebate to improve their water efficiency, which will in turn help reduce energy consumption.
Up to $25,000 in rebates are available for projects that save money by reducing water, waste and sewage.
Learn more here.
Northern Territory
new – Electric Vehicle Charger (Residential and Business) Grants Scheme
Grants of $2,500 are available for businesses to buy and install an electric vehicle charger. The NT Government will administer applications on a first-come, first-served basis, so get in your application quick.
Learn more here.
HOME AND BUSINESS BATTERY SCHEME
The Home and Business Battery Scheme funds businesses and not-for-profit organisations to buy and install batteries and inverters. Eligible users can access a grant of $450 per kilowatt hour of usable battery system capacity, up to a maximum grant of $6,000.
SMARTER BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
The Smarter Business Solutions program can help businesses reduce their day-to-day operating costs by cutting energy use and installing on-site renewable energy systems.
Smarter Business Solutions assistance includes free advice and grant funding incentives for NT businesses to adopt efficient, innovative technologies and best practices that will reduce their energy, water, waste and material costs.
Learn more here.
South Australia
INCENTIVES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
The South Australian government has introduced an electric vehicle subsidy package, including $3,000 subsidies and a three-year registration exemption for purchasing eligible new battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
As of 5 August 2022, 6,745 electric vehicle subsidies were remaining.
Learn more here.
Retailer Energy Productivity Scheme (REPS)
The REPS is a South Australian Government energy productivity scheme that provides incentives for South Australian households and businesses to save energy. The objective of the REPS is to ‘improve energy productivity for households, businesses and the broader energy system,’ with a focus on low-income households.
Learn more here.
Victoria
On-Farm Action Plan Pilot VIC
This pilot program provides practical information, services and grants to support Victorian farm businesses to understand and reduce emissions. There are only 250 spots open to the pool of $5 million.
SOLAR FOR BUSINESS
Eligible businesses can apply for a rebate of $3,500 to install a solar panel system, with the option to take advantage of an interest-free loan up to $5,000.
There are only 1,416 rebates remaining, so act now to bring down your business’ energy costs through renewable energy.
Learn more here.
Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program
The Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program provides businesses with access to discounts on a wide range of energy-efficient products. This helps cut power bills and reduce emissions.
Most businesses are eligible for the program and can upgrade lighting, heating and cooling systems, refrigeration systems, and other equipment. The average business currently saves $3,700 per year by participating in the VEU program.
Learn more here.
ZERO EMISSIONS VEHICLES REBATES
Rebates of $3,000 are still available through the Victorian Government for zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) purchased for less than $68,740. Rebates can be applied twice per business.
The dealership will apply for the subsidy on the buyers’ behalf, and the discount will apply at the final payment. With 3,860 remaining this release, act now before they run out.
Learn more here.
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There is an enormous amount of information on energy in the public domain, yet it can be hard for business leaders to extract what matters for their businesses.
Navigating a dynamic energy landscape: a briefing for Australian businesses is an executive-level briefing designed to cut through the noise and help businesses confidently navigate Australia’s dynamic energy landscape.
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