On-farm energy grants program

Applications for on-farm energy grants closed on 30 June 2020.

The Agriculture Energy Investment Plan included three tiers of grants:

• Tier 1 – grants of up to $50,000 for equipment upgrades (included a streamlined process for dairy farmers)
• Tier 2 – grants of up to $250,000 for projects seeking equipment or process improvements in a connected way across farming systems
• Tier 3 – grants of up to $1 million for projects of strategic or regional significance that include multiple farm businesses.

Grants were provided on a 'dollar for dollar' cash co-contribution basis. Recipients were required to contribute at least 50 per cent of the total cash costs of the project.

On-farm energy assessments provide information on equipment and systems to improve energy efficiency and energy productivity.

Once an on-farm energy assessment is completed, what happens next?

Undertaking an on-farm energy assessment provides you with advice and a plan to reduce on-farm energy consumption and bills, which may not require any further upfront investments.

Once an on-farm energy assessment is made, you might elect to make simple changes in management practices which could help you make equipment changes identified in the on-farm energy assessment.