The Federal Government has set aside $800 million for companies planning to upgrade their business and increase their energy efficiency as part of its Clean Technology Investment Program – a move Printing Industries says will help save print businesses money and power.
The program, which is part of the government’s Clean Energy Future Plan, is now open for funding grant submissions from businesses that can demonstrate that their upgrades will improve their energy efficien
cy.
The initiative is designed to support Australian manufacturers adjust to a lower carbon economic environment by providing grants to finance investments in energy-efficient capital equipment and low-emitting technologies and processes.
Hagop Tchamkertenian (pictured), Printing Industries national manager, Policy and Government Affairs, says that businesses proposing to make an investment were not bound to focus only on new technology or processes.
“Modifications to existing plant, equipment and processes also qualify for funding,” says Tchamkertenian. “The program threshold can be met from energy/fuel used at a single site or across a company’s manufacturing activities in Australia.”
To be eligible a company must:
- Use 300,000 kWh of electricity per annum (which equates to 25,000 kWh per month or 75,000 kWh per quarter).
Based on Printing Industries estimates this equates to:
- Spending more than $70,000 per annum on electricity (which is about $5,833 per month or $17,499 per quarter).
Tchamkertenian says that for businesses with a turnover of up to $100 million per annum the grant amount ranges between $25,000 and $500,000 and the applicant needs to match the funding on a 1:1 basis.
“For business with turnover greater than $100 million grants still range between $25,000 and $500,000 but the applicant to grant funding ratio becomes 2:1,” says Tchamkertenian. “For grant amounts ranging from $500,000 to $10 million the applicant to grant funding ratio remains at 2:1; and for grants of $10 million or more the ratio rises to 3:1.”
The program will provide grant funding on a competitive, merit-basis until 2017-18.
Printing Industries members considering an application should contact Hagop Tchamkertenian on (02) 8789 7361 or E-mail: hagop@printnet.com.au