A $1.2 billion Clean Technology Program will assist manufacturing industries over the next seven years, as part of the Federal Government's carbon price policy.

 

The Program has three components:


Clean Technology Investment Program ($800 million over seven years from 2011-12)

Competitive grants (minimum grant size of $25,000) for manufacturing businesses to invest in energy efficient capital equipment and low-emissions technologies, processes and products.

 

Examples of where funding will be utilised include:

  • adoption and deployment of technologies to reduce energy use and/or carbon emissions at manufacturing facilities;
  • process re‑engineering involving the adoption of energy or carbon efficient manufacturing tools;
  • support the conversion of facilities from coal to natural gas;
  • investing in co-generation plants; and
  • assistance with the implementation of energy efficiency opportunities.

 

To be eligible to apply for grant funding, manufacturing businesses must have an annual electricity consumption of at least 300 megawatt hours or 5 terajoules of natural gas, or be directly liable under the carbon pricing mechanism in the year prior to application.

 

Co‑investment of three dollars from grant recipients for every dollar of grant will be required.


Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program ($200 million over six years from 2011-12)

Competitive grants (minimum grant size of $25,000) for manufacturing businesses to invest in energy efficient capital equipment and low-emissions technologies, processes and products. 

 

This program comprises:

  • a dedicated $50 million stream for manufacturers in the metal forging and foundry sector; and
  • a dedicated $150 million stream provided for the manufactures in the food processing sector.

Co‑investment of three dollars from grant recipients for every dollar of grant will be required. In the event that funding under the food and foundries program is exhausted, businesses that were eligible under that program will be able to apply under the Clean Technology Investment Program program.


Clean Technology Innovation Program ($200 million over five years from 2012‑13)

Competitive grants will be provided to support business investment in low-emissions research and development in the areas of renewable energy, low- emissions technologies and energy efficiency. The program will offer grants from $50,000 up to $5 million.

 

Grants will be provided on a matched (50:50) co‑investment basis.

 

Grants will be available to businesses, as well as to companies controlled by universities and public sector research organisations.

 

More information is available here.