GRANT ALERT: On-farm Energy Grants

What is on offer?

Matched grants (1:1) are available under three funding tiers:

• Tier 1 – up to $50,000 to support farmers to replace energy inefficient equipment, install more efficient systems and adopt renewables
• Tier 2 – between $50,000 to $250,000 to make connected energy improvements across farm systems
• Tier 3 – $250,000 to $1 million to support strategic energy projects which benefit multiple farm businesses and make a positive contribution to regions.

What is eligible?

Eligible expenditure varies by grant tier. For Tiers 1 and 2, this can include:

• New plant and equipment including renewables
• Installation and commissioning expenses
• Direct and contract labour for implementation of identified energy measures
• Training specific to safe operation of new equipment
• Minor fit-out costs

Preference will be given to projects incorporating energy usage data measuring/monitoring systems, plus activities reducing environmental impacts.

Tier 3 projects must be collaborative and demonstrate a minimum of 20% improvement in energy efficiency and/or productivity. Examples are:

• Microgrid installations supporting a whole sub-sector
• Bioenergy opportunities for multiple farm businesses in a region and
• Renewable energy (multiple types) to accommodate an agriculture precinct

Who can apply?

Eligible farm businesses must be located in Victoria and conducting one or more of the following:

• Cultivating or propagating plants, fungi or their products or parts (including seeds, spores, bulbs and similar things) in any physical environment
• Maintaining animals for the purpose of selling them or their bodily produce (including natural increase)
• Manufacturing dairy produce from raw material that they produce
• Operating on-land aquaculture facilities.

To be eligible for a grant, farmers must be implementing recommendations from the free On-Farm Type 1 or Type 2 Energy Assessments conducted through the Agriculture Energy Investment Plan program, or an approved equivalent assessment.

Application Process

For Tier 1 and 2 grants, applications can be made on-line at any time. For Tier 3 grants, an Expression of Interest (EOI) must be submitted. Eligible applicants will then be invited to apply for funding. Grants are available until March 2020 or until funds are exhausted.

For further information on how to apply, please contact Sam Morris.