Energy Efficiency Grants for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises

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The Energy Efficiency Grants for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises program is supporting businesses to upgrade or replace inefficient equipment and implement other energy efficiency activities.

The program assists businesses to lower their energy use and improve their energy efficiency. It will also contribute to easing energy price fluctuations for businesses.   

Businesses could apply for grants valued between $10,000 and $25,000. 

Up to $56.7 million was available over 2 grant rounds to help businesses fund a range of energy efficiency activities, such as: 

  • upgrading or replacing inefficient technologies, such as changing existing display fridge cabinets with more efficient models or gas cookers with electric equivalents  
  • improving space and water heating systems  
  • conducting energy audits 
  • installing energy monitoring systems. 

Grants were awarded to eligible applicants in order of application receipt in each state and territory. 

Applications

This program is closed to new applications.

You can sign up for alerts on current and future Australian grant opportunities at GrantConnect.

Grant recipients

The second round of the program opened in February 2024 and closed for applications in April 2024. Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister announced successful recipients on 24 July 2024.

Round 2 supported 1,752 small and medium businesses with $41.2 million in grants.

The first round opened for applications in March 2023 and closed in April 2023. Assistant Minister McAllister announced successful recipients on 4 July 2023.

Round 1 supported 677 small and medium businesses with $15.5 million in grants.

Read some of the stories from recipients of the first round of grants.

Program objectives and outcomes

This program aims to:

  • improve energy efficiency practices
  • increase awareness and uptake of energy efficient technologies
  • assist small and medium businesses to manage their energy usage and costs
  • reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The intended outcomes are to:

  • increase awareness of energy efficiency opportunities
  • help small and medium businesses save energy and reduce their power bills
  • contribute to Australia reducing its emissions by 43% on 2005 levels by 2030.

Read more