ACT Energy Innovation Fund

Total program funding: up to $17 million over five years.
Stream 1 Technology Demonstration Grant: $50,000 to $1,000,000 per grant, and up to $10 million over five years. Matched funding required at a minimum 1:1 co-contribution, in-kind can be included, higher cash contributions are viewed favourably.
Stream 2 Policy Challenge Grant: $20,000 to $500,000 per grant, and up to $3.75 million over five years.
Stream 3 Innovation Ecosystem Grant: $30,000 to $300,000 per grant, and up to $3.25 million over five years.
Applications are available year-round, with two assessment cycles each year. Assessment deadlines are end April and end September.

The ACT Energy Innovation Fund provides early-stage grant funding to support energy transition innovation and help develop the ACT as an export-oriented hub for clean energy research, innovation and investment. The program funds a broad range of initiatives that contribute to the ACT’s net zero emissions target by 2045, including technology demonstration projects, solutions to policy challenges that accelerate the energy transition, and activities that build and connect the energy innovation ecosystem.

Funding is offered through three streams: Technology Demonstration, Policy Challenge, and Innovation Ecosystem, with grant amounts ranging from $20,000 to $1,000,000 depending on stream. Applications can be submitted year-round and are considered through two annual assessment cycles with set deadlines. The fund supports proposals that deliver clear benefits to the net zero transition and the ACT economy, and that demonstrate capability to commence and complete the proposed work.

Key Requirements

Drive energy transition innovation with export potential or ACT-wide benefit: Proposals should support the transition to cleaner energy systems through new technologies, business models, policy solutions, or ecosystem-building activities, with clear benefits for the ACT and alignment to the relevant stream objective.
Demonstrate capability and readiness to deliver: Applicants need to show they have sufficient resources and capability to commence and complete the project, supported by a clear plan, timeline, and delivery approach.
Stream 1 co-contribution: Stream 1 applicants must provide at least a 1:1 matched co-contribution, and stronger cash contributions are assessed more favourably than in-kind.
ACT connection and net zero contribution: Applicants must be ACT-based or propose activities mainly occurring in the ACT, and demonstrate contribution toward the ACT’s net zero emissions target by 2045.
Assessment-cycle deadlines: Submit at any time, noting the assessment deadlines and that late applications roll into the next cycle

What is eligible for funding?

Research, development, trials, pilots, and demonstrations of new and emerging energy transition technologies and solutions.
Projects improving renewable energy generation, energy storage, and management or optimisation of energy assets.
Initiatives accelerating electrification in transport, residential, and commercial sectors, including solutions addressing barriers to uptake of zero-emissions technologies.
Renewable hydrogen related development and utilisation, and related supporting innovation.
Energy efficiency and demand management solutions, including technologies for complex buildings and retrofits.
Stream 2 activities such as policy white papers, new business solutions, and regulatory sandboxing trials responding to the stated annual policy challenge.
Stream 3 ecosystem activities such as networking events, investor access, workshops, conferences, roundtables, showcasing programs, and business accelerator support for ACT-based innovation.

What companies are eligible for funding?

Businesses with an independent ABN.
For Stream 2, universities, think tanks, and research and trades institutions with expertise in the energy transition can apply, and partnerships with businesses are encouraged.
For Stream 3, businesses including not-for-profits can apply, and the Business Accelerator category is limited to ACT-based businesses.
Key considerations for applicants: you must hold required insurances or be prepared to obtain them if successful, be ACT-based or deliver most activities in the ACT, have satisfactorily met prior obligations for any previous funding, and be GST registered if applicable

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

Industry analysis presentation
Competitor Analysis Presentation
Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.

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