Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative

The Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative is a key part of the NSW Government’s commitment to achieving net zero by 2050. 
The Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative brings together 3 programs part of the Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020 – 2030:

• Clean Technology Innovation
• Low Carbon Product Manufacturing
• Renewable Manufacturing

The Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative will:  

• support a steady stream of new low emission technologies entering the market 
• build local manufacturing capacity of low carbon products and components for the renewable industry.

Businesses can benefit by receiving grant funding for:

• getting low emission technologies ready for market and continued innovation
• developing new or expanding current manufacturing facilities. 

The Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative is designed to support business competitiveness and open opportunities to profit from the push to reach net zero.

The Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative has 3 grant programs and 5 streams of funding. 

Each stream has guideline documents. The supplementary guidance documents have further information and the terms and conditions of the funding streams. 

We encourage you to use the eligibility tool on the website to determine the funding stream your project is best suited to, read the relevant guideline and supplementary guidance documents and register for the Q&A session to find information on the grants and the application process.

Clean Technology Innovation funding streams

On 19 March 2024, we held a Q&A session. You can watch the recording on our YouTube channel if you missed the session or would like to watch it again. 

Watch the recording

Low Carbon Product Manufacturing and Renewable Manufacturing funding streams

On 21 March 2024, we held a Q&A session. You can watch the recording on our YouTube channel if you missed the session or would like to watch it again.

Watch the recording

If you have questions about your specific project and application, please contact us at:

• [email protected] for all Clean Technology streams
• [email protected] for all Low Carbon Product Manufacturing and Renewable Manufacturing streams

No, you are not eligible if the project has already received NSW Government funding for the same outputs and outcomes. Eligibility won’t be affected if the grant funding received was for a different project. 

No, projects must be in NSW to be eligible for funding.

Before submitting an application, we encourage you to use the eligibility tool on the website to determine the funding stream your project is best suited to.

All applications must be submitted via SmartyGrants, a secure online grant management tool. Applications can be submitted anytime once the funding opportunity opens. 

For key dates, including when applications close, please read the funding guidelines and supplementary guidance of the relevant funding stream you are applying for.

There are no requirements for partner organisations contributions to be transferred to the lead applicant before they can be spent. However, the lead applicant is responsible for maintaining a record and reporting all project expenditure.

Yes. Please contact us with your application number and details about the proposed lead applicant changes.

All communication will be done through SmartyGrants, so please ensure that contacts are kept up to date.

Proposed changes to the lead applicant (during the application process or during the project) must be approved by the Department in writing and updated in Smarty Grants.

Please contact us at:

• [email protected] for all Clean Technology stream changes
• [email protected] for all Low Carbon Product Manufacturing and Renewable Manufacturing stream changes 

Note: The Department reserves the right to determine the proposed lead applicant ineligible if they cannot satisfy the eligibility criteria. 

Grants will be awarded to applicants who confirm committed financial contributions by the time they submit their full application. 

Applicants that propose meeting their financial contribution requirements by using future revenue streams must provide evidence that those revenue streams will be available to justify their inclusion (for example an existing customer contract).  

We will consider financial contributions that are already available or committed by the lead applicant or a partner organisation more favourably than future revenue streams when assessing grant applications.   

No, none of the funding streams have eligibility criteria for the size of a business or its turnover. However, each funding stream has its own merit criteria. These can include the resourcing and capability of the business to deliver the project and experience in delivering projects of a similar size or scope.

Refer to each funding stream's guidelines and supplementary guidance for more information on our website. 

Yes, where needed to confirm eligibility or for merit scoring, we might request clarification or supporting documentation through SmartyGrants. 

You will be notified by email via SmartyGrants that your application has been received. 

If you do not receive an email within 2 working days, please contact us at: 

• [email protected] for all Clean Technology streams
• [email protected] for all Low Carbon Product Manufacturing and Renewable Manufacturing streams

We have 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. 

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. 

We encourage you to use the eligibility tool on the website to determine the funding stream your project is best suited to. 

However, if you did submit an application for the wrong stream, please contact us with your application number as soon as possible at:

• [email protected] for all Clean Technology streams
• [email protected] for all Low Carbon Product Manufacturing and Renewable Manufacturing streams

We will advise if you can submit a new application and how to do so. 

For details on incorrect submissions, please read the funding guidelines and supplementary guidance of the relevant funding stream you are applying for.

If your application is unsuccessful, we will notify you of the outcome via an email and provide feedback solely at the discretion of the Department. 

These grants are designed to foster innovation throughout the entire journey of product development – from research and piloting to infrastructure development, commercialisation, and deployment. 

The objectives of these grants are to:

• test the technical and commercial feasibility, viability and or compliance of a product or project
• accelerate and expand the research, development and commercialisation of low emissions technologies that show potential for becoming scalable, replicable and cost-effective
• create an ecosystem that can develop the capability to foster clean technology innovation
• attract world-class clean technology companies and innovations to NSW, making NSW into a clean technology superpower.

Priority areas are guided by the NSW Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer’s NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Study.

Round 2 of the CTI grants provides 2 funding streams, developed based on lessons learned and stakeholder feedback from Round 1:

• Project development stream – new stream to expedite funding for the technical an commercial viability of a project or product to make informed decisions before progressing with technology trials.
• Commercial readiness stream – consolidates the research development, and commercialisation infrastructure grant and clean technology commercialisation grant from Round 1. The stream supports projects and activities that help advance clean technology projects and products.
• In CTI Round 2, there is no ecosystem grant stream. We will utilise the insights of the 2023 NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Study to shape future rounds to support the clean technology ecosystem.

The application process will consist of 2 stages:

Stage 1: expression of interest (EOI) – applications that comply with eligibility criteria and satisfy the merit assessment will be invited to submit a full application.

Stage 2: full application – a detailed application that will be assessed against the merit criteria.

The application process will consist of a competitive single-stage assessment process. This will involve a detailed application that will be assessed against the merit criteria.

Projects must be delivered and operational within 3 years of execution of the funding agreement.

Projects must be completed within 1 year of execution of the funding agreement.

We are providing funding to projects and activities that accelerate the commercialisation of lab-proven clean technologies. 

Section 4.4 in the CTI commercial readiness stream funding guidelines provides more details about examples of eligible projects. 

Yes, interstate and international organisations can apply. You must outline how the clean technology is significantly more innovative and commercially feasible than alternative solutions currently available in NSW and Australia.

Interstate organisations must:

• be willing to establish a NSW-based office with local staff capable of delivering the project
• be undertaking a project that will be delivered in NSW, with grant funding being expanded within the state where possible.

International organisations must:

• have a NSW-based project sponsor that endorses the project and demonstrates interest in purchasing the clean technology, should it be successfully commercialised
• be undertaking a project that will be delivered in NSW, with grant funding being expanded within the state where possible.
• be willing to establish a NSW-based office with local staff capable of delivering the project
• be willing to establish an Australia-based entity duly incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001.

No, applicants are required to choose either the project development or commercial readiness streams of the Clean Technology Innovation program. 

For guidance on which stream is most appropriate for your project, you can use the eligibility checker on our website. 

Section 4.4 in the CTI commercial readiness stream funding guidelines provides examples of eligible projects for the stream.

Section 4.4 in the CTI project development stream funding guidelines provides examples of eligible studies for the stream.

Yes, applicants can apply for up to 2 projects per stream; however, each project must be unique. 

For guidance on which stream is most appropriate for a project, you can use the eligibility checker on our website.

Yes, the project development stream activities such as feasibility studies, commercial viability, engineering design or any other activities will be considered eligible within the overall design, construction and verification elements of your project. 

However, these activities will form part of your funding deed milestone and must be a part of moving the technology up the technology readiness level (TRL) and commercial readiness index (CRI). 

The applicant will be able to secure up to $5 million under the commercial readiness stream. 

An applicant can secure up to $250,000 per unique project for up to 2 projects.

Researchers from private or public research organisations can apply. However, this must be through your research organisation’s commercialisation or technology transfer office. 

A separate entity must be established to commercialise the clean technology (for example, via a university spin-out) prior to submitting a full application.

Project contractors should be based within NSW. Where specific skills or expertise is required, and they cannot be sourced from within NSW, they can be sourced from outside.

Contractors that are not based in NSW can be used as long as the project is delivering technological, economic, social and environmental benefits for NSW.

We will assess all applications against the eligibility and merit criteria outlined in Section 5 of the corresponding stream funding guidelines. Section 3 of the supplementary guidance details the Assessment Process for the CTI funding streams. 

All applications will be assessed on a competitive basis by an independent Assessment Committee. 

No, an independent assessment committee will review your application against merit criteria. 

We expect that these reviews will take 6 - 10 weeks. 

Project development stream (PDS) activities can form part of a commercial readiness stream (CRS) application, as part of the project’s design, construction, and verification phase. However, to be eligible, these PDS activities must contribute to the advancement of the project’s Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and Commercial Readiness Index (CRI). These activities will be included in the funding agreement as milestones.

It’s important to note that adding PDS activities to a CRS application does not increase the available funding. The maximum funding remains at $5 million per project.

For example, a company that qualifies for the CRS and is advancing its technology (TRL and CRI) may include a component to trial the technology at an end user’s site. This component might require a technical feasibility study of the end user’s facility and their product (PDS activity). This can be packaged as part of their CRS application.

If your technology does not fall between a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5-9 then you are ineligible for both CTI streams.

To explore other grant programs currently administered by the NSW Government, you can utilise the grant finder.

No. The CTI program does not allocate specific funds for any technology or industry. It is a technology agnositic program. All applications will be assessed based on their merit as this a competitive grant.

There is no minimum abatement required.

If you’re invited to submit a full application for the commercial readiness stream, you must include an estimate of how much your project could reduce emissions in its target sector if successfully commercialised and deployed.

Yes. In the application form you can select ‘other’ and provide details about your technology, if your technology falls outside the mentioned priority areas of the Decarbonisation Innovation 2023 Study.

Yes, you will be able to retain all rights to your intellectual property.

It is a requirement of the eligibility criteria that you are either the legal and beneficial owner, or have all the necessary rights to use any intellectual property necessary to carry out your study. 

We anticipate receiving a diverse range of applications and acknowledge that the evidence appropriate for one technology might not be applicable for another. Examples of evidence may include data, journal articles, impact assessments, modelling etc.

For the commercial readiness stream full application, detailed evidence is required. 

Any organisation that holds an Australian Business Number (ABN) and meets the eligibility criteria is welcome to apply.  

Section 2.1 in the CTI supplementary guidance document provides applicant eligibility criteria.

To gain insights into the types of organisations that succeeded in the first round, you can refer to the Clean Technology Innovation website, examples include university spin-offs, startups, and research organisations were among the recipients. 

Universities are eligible to apply as the lead applicant provided they meet the eligibility criteria for the specified stream.

University applicants that don’t satisfy the criteria, may still participate by submitting a collaborative application with an industry partner. We welcome applications that demonstrate multi-disciplinary expertise and include financial co-investment. The application should showcase the strength of the project collaboration as part of your application.

The CTI program operates on a dollar-for-dollar basis. This drives applications that have a clear value proposition, which shows greater potential for securing ongoing financing beyond this grant project. It also allows the NSW Government to leverage its investment to unlock additional capital, resulting in potentially greater impact.

Further information about co-contributions can be found in Section 2.3.2. of the CTI supplementary guidance document.  

No. Only expenses that occur after the funding deed has been executed will be considered eligible.

If your project has started, activities carried out before the funding deed is signed are ineligible.

Co-contributions can be in both cash or in-kind (financial), however cash contributions will be viewed more favourably.   

In-kind (financial) includes salary of the project team, based on the proportion of time they spent on the project. While in-kind (non-financial) includes payment for existing rental facilities which are not eligible.

Section 2.3.3 and 2.3.4 in the Clean Technology Innovation supplementary guidance document provides examples of eligible and ineligible costs.

Only in-kind (financial) co-contributions are eligible and should be added to this table.

Examples of this include salary of the project team, based on the proportion of time they spent on the project. The applicant is responsible for determining the financial value of the in-kind contribution according to the provided guidance. 

In-kind (non-financial) co-contributions are not eligible. This includes payment for existing rental facilities which are not eligible. 

Section 2.3.3 and 2.3.4 in the CTI Supplementary Guidance document provides examples of eligible and ineligible costs.

You are welcome to submit applications for projects that have received or applied for other government funding.

However, in your application form you must clearly demonstrate criticality of funding and complete the related project section for us to understand the grants you have received or have applied for.

Round 1 recipients of the Clean Technology Innovation grants are welcome to apply. Your application must either be for unique projects along the commercialisation journey or for a continuation of the round 1 projects.

For the Clean Technology Innovation round 2 grants, there is no ecosystem grant stream. We will utilise the insights of the NSW Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer 2023 NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Study to provide support for the clean technology ecosystem in the future.

Unfortunately, this grant program is not providing that support. However, the Clean Technology Innovation program works closely with five incubators, pre-accelerators, accelerators.

For more information about the entrepreneurial ecosystem organisations who may support your project to prototype, visit the Clean Technology Innovation website.

In future rounds we will be looking at where the market gaps are to determine where funding is needed most. 

Applicants are required to nominate the TRL and CRI for their technology as part of their application. Evidence is required to support the proposed TRL and CRI.

Guidance on this matter is provided by ARENA and can be found in the CTI supplementary guidance on page 31 in Appendix B.

Technologies below TRL 5 are not eligible.

However, the Clean Technology Innovation program works closely with 5 incubators, pre-accelerators, accelerators who may be able to support your project to prototype.

For more information about entrepreneurial ecosystem organisations visit the Clean Technology Innovation website.

The NSW Government funded NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub may also support you on your commercialisation journey. 

Unfortunately, at this stage the Clean Technology Innovation (CTI) program uses the CRI as guidance on commercial readiness. Guidance on this matter is developed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) for renewable energy sectors, the CRI methodology can be adapted and utilised across different technological domains to gauge their readiness for commercialisation and deployment.

Guidance on this matter is provided by ARENA and can be found in the CTI supplementary guidance on page 31 in Appendix B.

The department will establish the assessment committee, which will consist of representatives from other government agencies and industry subject matter experts.

All members of the assessment committee will be independent and will be required to meet all probity and governance requirements.

No, there is no requirement to provide evidence of funds in the bank.

Examples of supporting documents you may include to provide evidence of co-contributions include partnership agreements with your co-contributors and letters of intent (LOI) from your project customers or partners or contributors. 

The LCPM supports investment in new industrial facilities and advanced manufacturing capabilities to help decarbonise the NSW economy and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. There are 4 objectives to the LCPM fund: 

• driving economic growth across NSW
• increasing investment and employment in new low carbon industries 
• supporting a diverse, self-sufficient, resilient, and competitive low carbon manufacturing sector
• establishing new industrial facilities and advanced manufacturing capabilities to help decarbonise NSW’s economy. 

A low carbon product has lower lifetime emissions (carbon dioxide equivalent, or “CO₂e”) compared to similar products currently dominant in the market.  

As an applicant, you must be able to demonstrate emissions reduction potential consistent with established emissions assessment methodologies. 

Section 3 of the Low Carbon Product Manufacturing construction ready supplementary guidance provides more detail.

The LCPM project development stream will support project development activities that will help businesses reach a financial investment decision (FID) for new or expanded industrial facilities manufacturing low carbon products.

The construction ready stream will provide funds for capital costs of constructing a manufacturing facility or expanding an existing facility.

The project development stream will fund specific activities that a business needs to carry out in order to prepare for constructing a manufacturing facility, for example, front end engineering design.   

We are funding projects for the establishment of new or expanded manufacturing facilities. These facilities must be in NSW and manufacture low carbon products, at commercial scale, from the following categories: 

• building materials including cement, steel, aluminium, and cross laminated timber
• ‘green’ chemicals including ammonia and methanol
• biofuels derived from biomass including plant or algae material, or animal waste 
• power fuels produced with renewable energy including hydrogen and hydrogen fuel derivatives
• inputs needed for agricultural production such as fertilisers, animal feeds

Section 4 of the LCPM construction ready stream funding guidelines provides more detail on project eligibility. 

Note: The categories have been updated since the 2023 registration of interest for this initiative.

We are funding projects aimed at achieving a financial investment decision to construct a NSW based commercial-scale manufacturing facility for low carbon products.

The following categories of projects are eligible for funding:

1. front-end engineering design 
2. product carbon footprint assessment
3. product compliance and certification study to scale manufacturing
4. manufacturing facility development approval.

Section 4 of the LCPM project development stream funding guidelines provides more detail on project eligibility.

A total of $95 million is available under the first round of the LCPM construction ready stream. Grants range between $2 million and $20 million.

A total of $5 million is available under the first round of the LCPM project development stream. Grants range between $50,000 and $900,000 per eligible project development activity.

There will likely be additional funding rounds for both the LCPM construction ready and LCPM project development streams after 2024. Sign up to receive updates.

Successful applicants must provide a cash contribution of at least 50% of the total project cost from non-NSW Government sources. This applies to both Low Carbon Product Manufacturing streams. In-kind (non-financial) contributions are not counted towards the 50% contribution of the total project costs. 

Successful projects must be delivered and operational within 4 years of execution of the funding agreement, and no later than 30 June 2032. 

Successful projects must be completed within 18 months of execution of the funding agreement.

Yes, you can apply for funding for more than one eligible project. However, you must submit a separate application for each project and funding is capped at $1 million per successful applicant. 

All grant amounts are GST-exclusive. Successful applicants will be paid the approved grant amount exclusive 10% by the Department.  

Yes, providing a lead applicant must be appointed and satisfy the eligibility criteria. 

If an application is successful, the lead applicant must enter the funding agreement and will be held ultimately responsible for the delivery of the project.

Sections 4 of both the Low Carbon Product Manufacturing (LCPM) construction ready stream funding guidelines and LCPM project development stream funding guidelines provide more details on eligible applicants.

Yes, applicant businesses can be based in NSW, interstate or internationally. However, to be eligible for funding, the project must be based in NSW.

The lead applicant must be a business and satisfy the following requirements:  

• obtain an Australian Business Number (ABN) prior to entering the funding deed agreement  
• become an entity type (including a company incorporated in Australia, a company limited by guarantee, an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust, etc)
• not be subject to any insolvency event including the subject of an order or resolution for winding up or dissolution
• not be listed on the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) sanctions list
• disclose any legal proceedings or investigations
• disclose all Australian Government and/or Australian state, territory grants applied for in relation to the project. 

Sections 4 of both the Low Carbon Product Manufacturing (LCPM) construction ready stream funding guidelines and project development stream funding guidelines provide more detail on applicant eligibility requirements.

Eligible costs include capital and other expenses directly associated with project delivery. Ongoing costs associated with the day-to-day operation of the business such as staff wages are ineligible. Costs that were incurred prior to the execution of the funding agreement are also ineligible. 

Section 4 of the LCPM construction ready funding guidelines provides more detail on eligible costs. 

Costs directly related to the delivery of the project are eligible such as the engagement of contractors, consultants and technical experts and up to 10% administration costs. Any expenses incurred before both parties have signed a funding agreement are deemed ineligible costs.

Section 4 of the LCPM project development stream funding guidelines provides more detail on eligible costs.

The application process consists of two stages:

• Stage 1: expression of interest (EOI)
• Stage 2: detailed application (by invitation only). 

EOIs that comply with the eligibility criteria and satisfy the merit assessment will be invited to submit a detailed application. 

Section 3 of the LCPM construction ready stream funding guidelines provides more detail on the application process.

A team of subject matter experts will assess your EOI against the following merit criteria:

• deliverability and technical feasibility of your project
• financial and commercial feasibility of your project (market viability) 
• strategic significance of your project (CO₂e reduction potential).

You must satisfy the EOI eligibility and merit criteria to be considered for the detailed application stage. 

Section 3 of the LCPM construction ready stream supplementary guidance details the information and evidence required in the EOI stage.  

A team of subject matter experts will assess your application against the following merit criteria:

• deliverability and technical feasibility of your project in more detail
• financial and commercial feasibility of your project in more detail
• strategic significance of your project in more detail
• value for money and affordability to government.

Section 3 of the LCPM construction ready stream supplementary guidance details the information and evidence you are required to provide for the detailed application stage. Applicants invited to the detailed application stage will receive additional guidance on the cost benefit analysis and what data is required. 

An assessment team consisting of subject matter experts will score your application against the merit criteria. An independent review panel will oversee the assessment and make recommendations to the decision maker.

We expect the assessment of the EOIs and detailed applications to take up to 8 and 10 weeks respectively. Projects will be assessed on their own merits in a competitive environment.

The application process for the project development stream consists of a single stage detailed application. 

Your application will be assessed against the following merit criteria:

• purpose and capability to deliver
• strategic significance of the project
• value for money and affordability of your project to government

Section 3 of the LCPM project development stream supplementary guidance details the information and evidence you are required to provide for the application. 

Section 3 of the LCPM project development stream funding guidelines gives more information about the application process. 

An assessment committee will assess and score your application against the merit criteria and make recommendations to the decision-makers.

It is expected that the review will take up to 9 weeks. Projects will be assessed on their own merits, in a competitive environment.

No, it’s not a requirement to have participated in the ROI to apply for Low Carbon Product Manufacturing (LCPM) funding. The ROI was a standalone exercise aimed at identifying the number and types of projects potentially suitable for funding and seeking industry feedback on the types of government support needed.

Yes, you can apply for funding for the same project or a different project.

Please note that ROI submissions will not be taken into consideration in the expression of interest assessment process.

No, we will make the funding agreement template for this stream available after the EOI stage, to invited applicants only.

Yes, the funding agreement template for the LCPM project development stream is available for download via the Smartgrants LCPM project development application portal and represents the terms we consider appropriate. 

No, your project does not need to meet a specific $/tCO₂e target.  However, the assessment for your project will include consideration of the potential abatement of CO₂e. 

We have the discretion to approve changes to projects on a case-by-case basis. However, to protect the integrity of the grant initiative, we will exercise restraint when the changes are material and affect the nature of the project.  

Please contact us at [email protected] to discuss any proposed changes to your project. 

The CRI can be used to indicate the commercial readiness of a project or product.  

A project or product with a CRI of 3 (commercial scale up) or higher may be suitable for the Low Carbon Product Manufacturing funding streams.  

We do not determine a CRI score. The assessment team reviews and scores your application against the merit criteria outlined in the funding guidelines.  This includes financial and commercial feasibility.

For further information, refer to ARENA’s Commercial Readiness Index.

Yes, you need to provide details on applicable standards and or regulatory requirements for your project, including the status of meeting those.

Projects must be based in NSW. This is an eligibility criterion, and the project location must be confirmed in your expression of interest. You will also need to provide details on required development approvals for your project and the status of those.

The objectives of the RM fund are to:

• drive economic growth across NSW
• grow NSW’s renewable energy supply chain capacity and capability
• alleviate supply chain risk and secure supply for the NSW renewable energy sector.

We are funding projects for the establishment of new or expanded industrial facilities that manufacture renewable energy components at commercial scale. This includes:

• components for renewable energy infrastructure such as, but not limited to, wind towers, solar panels and batteries
• hydrogen electrolysers.

Section 4 of the RM construction ready funding guidelines provides more detail on project eligibility.

Projects can contribute to growing NSW’s renewable energy supply chain capacity and capability through:

• expanding existing capacity to meet the growing demand for renewable energy products 
• investing in new industry capacity and capability 
• attracting more manufacturers to NSW and fostering growth in other parts of the value chain
• achieving scale at speed to ensure supply risks are addressed early 
• scaling up innovative local technologies, reducing costs through integration with for example critical mineral projects and key industries (e.g., steel and aluminium)
• utilising NSW's highly skilled industrial workforce.

Section 2 of the RM construction ready stream supplementary guidance provides more detail on renewable manufacturing fund objectives.

Yes, so long as you are able to demonstrate a pathway for the technology to be applied in grid scale renewable energy production, storage or transmission. 

A total of $150 million is available under the first round of the RM construction ready stream. Grants range between $5 and $50 million per successful project. 

At this time the Renewable Manufacturing construction ready stream is expected to have only one funding round.

Successful applicants must provide a cash contribution of at least 50% of the total project cost from non-NSW Government sources. In-kind (non-financial) contributions are not counted towards a 50% contribution of the total project costs. 

Projects must be delivered and operational within 4 years of the execution of the funding deed but no later than 30 June 2030.

Yes, provided the lead applicant satisfies the eligibility criteria. The lead applicant must enter into the funding agreement and will be held ultimately responsible for the delivery of the project.

Section 4 of the Renewable Manufacturing construction ready stream funding guidelines provides more detail on eligible applicants.

Yes, applicant businesses can be based in NSW, interstate or internationally. However, to be eligible for funding, the project must be based in NSW.

The lead applicant must be a business and satisfy the following requirements:  

• obtain an Australian Business Number (ABN) prior to entering the funding deed agreement  
• become an entity type (including a company incorporated in Australia, a company limited by guarantee, an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust, etc)
• not be subject to any insolvency event including the subject of an order or resolution for winding up or dissolution
• not be listed on the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) sanctions list
• disclose any legal proceedings or investigations
• disclose all Australian Government and/or Australian state, territory grants applied for in relation to the project.

Sections 4 of both the Low Carbon Product Manufacturing (LCPM) construction ready stream funding guidelines and project development stream funding guidelines provide more detail on applicant eligibility requirements.

Eligible costs include capital expenses and other expenses directly associated with project delivery. Ongoing costs associated with the day-to-day operation of the business such as staff wages are ineligible as well as costs that incurred prior to the execution of the funding agreement. 

Section 4 of the Renewable Manufacturing construction ready funding guidelines provides more information on eligible costs.

The application process consists of two stages:

• Stage 1: Expression of Intertest (EOI) 
• Stage 2: Detailed application (by invitation only). 

If your EOI complies with the eligibility criteria and satisfies the merit assessment, you will be invited to submit a detailed application.
Section 3 of the RM construction ready stream funding guidelines provides more detail on the application process.

A team of subject matter experts will assess your EOI against the following merit criteria:

• deliverability and technical feasibility of your project
• financial and commercial feasibility of your project, market viability only

You must satisfy the EOI eligibility and merit criteria to be considered for the detailed application stage. 

Section 4 of the RM construction ready stream supplementary guidance details the information and evidence required in the EOI stage.  

A team of subject matter experts will assess your application against the following merit criteria:

• deliverability and technical feasibility of your project in more detail
• financial and commercial feasibility of your project in more detail
• strategic significance of your project
• value for money and affordability to government.

Section 4 of the RM construction ready supplementary guidance details exactly the information and evidence required for the detailed application stage. Applicants invited to the detailed application stage will receive additional guidance on the cost benefit analysis and what data is required. 

An assessment team consisting of subject matter experts will score your application against the merit criteria. An independent review panel will oversee the assessment and make recommendations to the decision maker.

We expect the assessment for expressions of interest and detailed applications to take up to 8 and 10 weeks respectively. Projects will be assessed on their own merits in a competitive environment.

No, it’s not a requirement to have participated in the ROI to apply for the Renewable Manufacturing funding. The ROI was a standalone exercise aimed at identifying the number and types of projects potentially suitable for funding and seeking industry feedback on the types of government support needed.

Yes, you can apply for funding for the same project, or a different project.

Please note that ROI submissions will not be taken into consideration in the expression of interest assessment process.

No, we will make the funding agreement template for this stream available after the expressions of interest stage, to invited applicants only. 

The CRI can be used to indicate the commercial readiness of a project or product.  

A project or product with a CRI of 3 (commercial scale up) or higher may be suitable for the Low Carbon Product Manufacturing funding streams.  

We do not determine a CRI score. The assessment team reviews and scores your application against the merit criteria outlined in the funding guidelines.  This includes financial and commercial feasibility.   

For further information, refer to ARENA’s Commercial Readiness Index.

Projects must be based in NSW. This is an eligibility criterion, and the project location must be confirmed in your expression of interest. You will also need to provide details on required development approvals for your project and the status of those.