We recommend you review these frequently asked questions (FAQs) when developing your grant application. If your questions are not addressed in the FAQs, email us at emissionsreduction@environment.nsw.gov.au.
About the funding opportunity
This funding will help our highest emitting industries achieve significant and sustained emissions reductions by 2030. This aligns with NSW’s target of net zero by 2050. We aim to help industries achieve this target through the following 3 objectives:
- supporting decarbonisation in high emitting facilities
- accelerating transformative decarbonisation projects
- helping industry thrive in a low carbon economy.
Decarbonising manufacturing and mining sectors will:
- help NSW reach net zero by 2050
- improve air quality
- grow and diversify our economy
- create new jobs
- improve our energy security
- provide businesses with more choices to increase revenue, increase productivity, produce higher value products, grow new low carbon industries and reduce emissions.
We are providing $305 million to develop and implement abatement projects at NSW manufacturing and mining facilities. This will significantly reduce their emissions and strengthen their resilience into the future.
High emitting facilities are those that emit more than 0.09 MtCO2e per year. Only high emitting manufacturing or mining facilities in NSW are supported by this funding.
Examples include:
- facilities in mining sectors
- coal mining
- metal ore mining
- facilities in manufacturing sectors
- basic ferrous metals
- basic non-ferrous metals
- manufacturing – general
- grain mill and cereal products
- other basic chemical products
- pulp, paper, and paperboard
- cement, lime, plaster, and concrete
- glass
- any other mining or manufacturing facilities in NSW that emit more than 0.09 MtCO2e.
We are providing funding to support the development and deployment of decarbonisation projects that prioritise scope 1 emissions reduction. Funding covers project feasibility through to commissioning. We will support pre-deployment and deployment projects. We are looking for cost effective projects and will prioritise applications that have a larger emissions potential. Section 2 of the guidelines provides more details about eligible projects.
We are looking for projects that achieve significant carbon avoidance or removal through 2 investment priorities:
- priority 1: deploy opportunities to reduce industrial emissions (*$200 million)
- priority 2: accelerate strategic abatement opportunities (*$105 million).
*indicative funding until 2030.
These priorities will be updated every 2 years to ensure our program evolves with NSW industry’s approach to decarbonisation. Section 4 of our Net Zero Industry and Innovation Investment Plan provides more details about our investment priorities and opportunities for 2022-2024.
The duration of each project depends on its complexity. However, all pre-deployment projects should be completed by 2030 and deployment projects fully commissioned and operational by 2030.
Yes. We are hosting industry briefing events in November and December. Visit our website to find out more and register to attend. Recordings of these sessions will also be available on our website soon.
Eligibility
To be eligible for funding, an application must meet all eligibility criteria in both the fast-track assessment (stage 1) and full application (stage 2). These apply to both pre-deployment and deployment projects.
Section 3 of the guidelines provide further information about eligibility.
Yes. Collaboration is a key objective for this funding opportunity. We encourage applications with multi-disciplinary expertise and financial co-contributions. You should showcase the strength of your project’s collaboration in your application.
Yes. You can apply for funding if your business has also received other government funding. However, if your project has already received other government funding you must clearly demonstrate that your application would not proceed without HEI funding.
No. Projects must be located and delivered within NSW to be eligible for this funding.
Funding is only available for organisations registered in Australia with an active Australian Business Number.
We are aware that NSW or Australia may not have the necessary expertise for your project. It is acceptable to outsource expertise if the project benefits NSW.
Applicants seeking funding must contribute at least 50% of the eligible costs of the project. Higher contributions are preferred, and we will determine the final funding amount to be provided after assessing your application. Co-contribution can be provided by the applicant’s organisation or through arrangements with partner organisations not affiliated with the NSW Government. Appendix C in the guidelines provide more information about eligible costs.
If you have any questions about your project or eligibility, email our team at emissionsreduction@environment.nsw.gov.au. Please provide a short description of your project so we can determine if it is eligible for funding.
Applying for a grant
This application includes a two-stage non-competitive process including an initial fast-track assessment (stage 1) followed by a full application. If your application is successful in stage 1, you will be invited to the full application stage. Applicants who are successful at the full application stage will enter into a funding agreement with us. Section 4 of the guidelines provides more detail about the application process.
All applications must be submitted via SmartyGrants, a secure online grant management tool. Applications can be submitted anytime once the funding opportunity opens.
No, there is no limit on the number of applications submitted by an applicant, business, organisation or facility as long as they represent different projects.
At this stage of the application process, you can submit a shorter, high-level application outlining the key elements of your project for consideration by our technical assessors. During this process there is no need for you to provide a detailed breakdown and analysis. We will discuss any additional project elements which may be needed prior to your project progressing to Stage 2.
You will be notified by email via SmartyGrants that your application has been received. If you do not receive this notification or have any other queries regarding your application, email our team at emissionsreduction@environment.nsw.gov.au.
We will assess applications against the eligibility and merit criteria outlined in section 3 of the guidelines. All applications will be assessed on a non-competitive basis.
Applications can be submitted at any time, and they will be assessed immediately following receipt. We expect that Stage 1 reviews will take 4 to 6 weeks and if successful, we will invite you to submit a full application.
Yes. If you are unsuccessful, we will advise you in writing with details on how to seek feedback on your application.
Funding
We have committed $305 million to support NSW’s manufacturing and mining facilities to significantly reduce their emissions and strengthen their resilience into the future. There is no predefined limit on how much each application can apply for. The grant amount depends on the abatement potential and size of the project. We will determine the final funding amount to be provided after assessing your application.
No. Only new contributions will be considered.
No. The co-contribution must include a cash component. Higher cash contributions will be considered favourably.
Co-contribution, including the cash component, should be confirmed by the time you submit a full application. If there is likely to be a delay in confirming co-contribution funds, you should advise us as early as possible via email. We will not enter into a funding agreement unless you have confirmed co-contribution funding. This may include letters from funding bodies or private investors.
No. Cash contributions can be from any source. All co-contributions must be confirmed prior to grants being awarded. Any conditions or requirements of co-contribution funding must also be compatible with these grants.
Privacy and confidentiality
The Office of Energy and Climate Change (office) has legal obligations under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) in relation to the collection, storage, access, use and disclosure of personal information. If collecting your personal information, we will provide you with a privacy statement at the time of collection that details how this information will be managed in accordance with privacy law.