High energy using businesses across Australia are being supported by the Morrison Government to cut energy costs and improve their resilience as the economy recovers from COVID-19.

Through the Government’s Energy Efficient Communities Program, 48 businesses that consume more than 0.05 petajoules of energy annually have been awarded grants of up to $25,000 to implement energy efficiency opportunities that will help lower their power bills.

Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said bringing down the cost of energy for businesses is a priority of the Morrison Government.

“For these businesses in particular, energy costs are a high proportion of their operating expenses,” Minister Taylor said.

“This program was targeted and designed to help large businesses such as manufacturers, smelters and food producers to reduce these costs and support jobs and communities across the country that rely on their operations.”

“Supporting industry to reinvest in their businesses, grow, thrive and employ more Australians has never been more important as we emerge from the COVID-19 recession.”

Successful applicants will match the grants with an equally-sized co-contribution.

The successful projects include:

• upgrading lighting to LEDs at a sawmill in Penola, South Australia;
• insulating piping, steam valves and flanges to reduce heat loss in a production process at a paper manufacturer in Campbellfield, Victoria; and
• reducing equipment air leaks and power use at an aluminium smelter in Bell Bay, Tasmania

The Energy Efficient Communities Program was announced as part of the Government’s $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package to deliver on Australia’s 2030 climate commitments.

The full list of successful applicants for the High Energy Using Business grants is available on the business.gov.au website.

Media contacts:

Minister Taylor's office 02 6277 7120