WA Lower Carbon Grants Program - Gorgon Fund

WA Lower Carbon Grants Program – Gorgon Fund

  • Applications will remain open until 11 June 2024.
  • The State will determine financial assistance on a case-by-case basis up to a maximum of
    50 percent of the total project cost with a minimum and maximum State contribution amount of AUD $5 million and AUD $15 million.

In 2024, the Lower Carbon Grants Program - Gorgon Fund will commence, aiming to finance local innovations aiding decarbonisation in WA. This initiative, part of a $40 million agreement between the WA Government and Chevron's Gorgon Project, funded by the Gorgon Joint Venture, will also establish a GreenTech Hub, nurturing local green technology ventures.

The Lower Carbon Grants Program will support large-scale research and innovation efforts across industries and regions, facilitating practical decarbonisation solutions. Aligned with WA's goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, this initiative underscores the state's commitment to diversify and decarbonise its economy.

Key Requirements

An Advisory Committee, which will include representatives from the state, Chevron and third-party members will be established to undertake the assessment of applications. This committee will be responsible for evaluating funding applications based on their adherence to eligibility and merit criteria. To ensure thorough evaluation, the Advisory Committee may enlist the expertise of government agencies and independent technical professionals as needed. This collaborative approach will aid in identifying applications that most effectively meet the criteria and offer the highest value for public investment.

Recommendations on the projects that best align with the specified criteria will be recommended for submission to the Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy for approval. It is important to note that the Minister’s decision regarding the allocation of funds is final and entirely at the discretion of the Minister.

Applicants will receive written notification of the outcome of their application at the end of the assessment process. Applicants may request feedback from the Department. The Department may engage technical experts appointed to provide confidential advice or review of applications to support the assessment process.

The detailed online application requires comprehensive information covering all aspects of the proposal, including, but not limited to:

  • A comprehensive business and/or project plan, along with a risk assessment, must clearly demonstrate feasibility and delivery. Project risks and risk mitigation strategies should be identified and included.
  • capital structure and financial viability, including financial modeling of the proposal throughout its lifecycle and beyond existing operations, should be provided with detailed supporting assumptions. This should also include an assessment of sustainability beyond the term of a financial assistance agreement.
  • the applicant must provide the most recent audited financial statements covering the last three years, including the income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, statement of changes in equity, and accompanying notes.
  • proof of the business and corporate structure(s), including governance arrangements for the project, must be provided.
  • evidence of commitments from additional funding sources for the proposed project must be provided.
  • market analysis should include an industry description, an assessment of current and future market potential, and competition
  • competitor analysis, State economic impact analysis, supply chain analysis, and value chain analysis
  • evidence of technology transfer and innovation

 

What is eligible for funding?

Applicants are required to indicate in the business case and application form whether the project will utilise any Australian Government or other State Government funding. The Western Australian Government provides grant funding that may cover up to 50 percent of the total project costs.

Eligible costs will be determined in the FAA. Typically, eligible costs may encompass expenses directly linked to the implementation of the project, such as:

  • capital costs associated with equipment used for carbon abatement or sequestration.
  • purchases of new equipment and technology
  • essential non-equipment expenditure encompasses costs related to design, professional services, transport, installation and commissioning, laboratory testing, and field sampling that are essential for achieving a project’s objectives or milestones.
  • project management costs and grant administration costs
  • expenditure on capital/asset investment
  • salaries/wages for new jobs created specifically for project-related tasks throughout the project duration.
  • expenditure that occurs after the project commencement date and aligns with these guidelines.

What companies are eligible for funding?

To be eligible for consideration, all documentation must be submitted in English. Additionally, the applicant must provide evidence of the following to be eligible:

1.) At the time of entering into a Lower Carbon Project Funding Agreement, the applicant should be an Australian entity incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) or the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) and have an existing ABN

2.) The officers and members of the applicant’s management team must demonstrate suitability and integrity based on:

  • No disqualification by law from performing their role
  • No conflicts of interest or any conflicts that could pose a significant risk to their ability to perform their management duties effectively.
  • Their legal authority to execute and oversee the project under consideration.

3.) The applicant must not be owned or controlled by any country or individual subject to economic sanctions or trade restrictions imposed by the United Nations Security Council, Australian Government, United Kingdom Government, Japanese Government, or United States Government. Additionally, the applicant must not be debarred, excluded, or declared ineligible to participate in contracts with the Australian Government, United Kingdom Government, Japanese Government, or United States Government.

4.) The Lower Carbon Project will primarily occur in Western Australia or have a significant connection to the region.

5.) The applicant must be a legally and solvent entity, or have a partnership with a legal and solvent entity, with an established trading history for at least the past 3 financial years in their home country (at the very least).

  • Financial statements for the previous three fiscal years should encompass:
    • Income Statements
    • Statement of Financial Position
    • Statement of Cash Flows
    • Statement of Changes in Equity
    • Notes to the Financial Statements (where applicable)
    • Audited financial statements

6.) The applicant should submit a business plan and supporting evidence that demonstrates the capability in management, technical expertise, and financial capacity to execute the proposed project. This may involve showcasing completed or ongoing projects of comparable or larger scope.

7.) Financial investment in the form of committed cash must cover at least 50% of the total project cost. This investment can come from the applicant, its project partner(s), the private sector, or financial institutions.

8.) Market analysis should provide substantial evidence demonstrating that the project is economically sustainable without additional investment from the State.

9.) Commencement of operations, contingent upon regulatory approvals, should occur within two years of signing the Financial Assistance Agreement FAA with the State, unless otherwise specified by mutual agreement.

10.) Investment readiness may encompass the following aspects:

  • A business and/or project plan along with a risk register must clearly demonstrate project feasibility and delivery, including the identification of project risks and corresponding risk management strategies.
  • Demonstrated capabilities and capacity to carry out the proposed project
  • Project viability such as feasibility studies and due diligence.
  • Commercial viability and sustainability in the absence of any financial incentive
  • Financial modeling and/or budgeting for the anticipated project lifespan, with an evaluation of project sustainability beyond the agreed financial assistance period.
  • Identifies avenues to finance the proposed project.
  • Effective governance structures established to oversee project management.
  • Commitment from the board or senior management to advance project planning and implementation.
  • Market analysis demonstrating ample demand for the proposed outputs, including ongoing negotiations with potential customers through purchase or offtake agreements.
  • Competitor analysis for the proposed project.

11.) The project must be legally compliant in Western Australia and adhere to all applicable laws, including but not limited to relevant legislation, regulations, rules, orders, approvals, and regulatory requirements.

12.) Accept the State’s FAA Terms and Conditions.

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.