Grants up to $300,000 to support ACT businesses to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative clean energy solutions and the growth of ACT’s renewable energy sector.
Current status of program
CLOSED
To register your interest in future rounds or discuss alternative grant opportunities please contact us here.
On this page you will find
- An overview of the Renewable Energy Investment Fund (REIF) Grants Program
- Every detail you need to know
- Resources and help to get the grant
What is the Renewable Energy Investment Fund (REIF)?
The Renewable Energy Investment Fund (REIF) is driving the long-term development and sustainability of the renewable energy industry in the ACT. It aims to:
- support renewable energy companies based in the ACT
- attract new ventures to the ACT
- develop new research and trades training opportunities
- support the development of a renewable energy ecosystem
The REIF Grants Program has up to $1.5 million to support businesses to develop and commercialise innovative renewable energy and clean technology solutions. The program seeks new business models and innovation to solve clean energy challenges and accelerate the uptake of clean energy initiatives.
REIF Grants Program level of support
Grant
- $50,000 to $300,000
- Maximum 50% of total project costs
Co-contribution
- Minimum 50% of total project costs
- Private funds, Commonwealth Government funding, in-kind contributions, or a combination of these sources
REIF Grants Program important dates
- This program is currently closed
- Register your interest here with GrantHelper
REIF Grants Program important details that you will need to know
REIF objectives
The program aims to provide flexible, early-stage funding to businesses within the ACT to support a broad diversity of new and emerging technologies, ventures and activities consistent with the funding scope. (See eligible projects below).
The expected outcomes from the program’s projects are to support:
- the acceleration of research, development, and commercialisation of innovative clean energy solutions.
- the growth and development of the ACT renewable energy sector
Where applicable, applicants should consider how their proposal aligns with complementary government objectives and policies including, but not limited to:
- ACT Climate Change Strategy 2019–2025
- The ACT Zero Emissions Vehicle Strategy 2022-30
- Our Pathway to Electrification – Position Paper
- 10th Legislative Assembly Parliamentary and Governing Agreement
- Canberra’s Living Infrastructure Plan
- Zero-Emission Transition Plan for Transport Canberra
- ACT Waste Management Strategy 2011–2025
See the guidelines for links to these documents.
Organisations eligible for REIF support
The program is open to businesses with expertise in clean technology innovation.
A lead organisation seeking a REIF Grant must:
- have an ABN
- hold all insurances required by law, including $10 million public liability insurance and workers compensation
- be an ACT based organisation, or the majority of the proposed funded activities must occur within the ACT
- have satisfactorily acquitted all outstanding grant milestones, reporting requirements, and obligations, including financial acquittals for previous REIF funding or any other ACT Government agency grant
- be able to demonstrate a contribution to the ACT achieving net zero emissions by 2045. Generation, transport, or green hydrogen projects must be based entirely on renewable resources
- be registered for GST (if turnover is greater than $150,000 per annum)
- be able to achieve all project milestones within three years of commencement
- be able to demonstrate the minimum 1:1 matched funding contribution. Co-contributions can include in-kind contributions; higher cash contributions will be viewed favourably during assessment
The following are not eligible to receive funding:
- A Commonwealth, state or territory government agency
- Universities and other research institutions are only eligible if they partner with a business, with an independent ABN, as the lead applicant
Additionally, applicants are not eligible if:
- the ACT Government determines that any information provided by the applicant regarding legal proceedings or investigations materially impacts their suitability as a grant recipient
- the organisation and individual shareholders of the organisation are subject to any insolvency event
- the applicant or organisation are named on the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade sanctions list
See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible applicants.
Projects eligible for REIF support
REIF grants will focus on the demonstration and scale-up of new technologies and ventures which will support the development of the ACT as an export-oriented hub for renewable energy research, innovation and investment.
Projects funded by the program must align with the following research, education and business sectors:
- Renewable energy generation science, engineering and social science
- Energy storage science, engineering and social science
- Energy generation asset management
- Distributed energy resources (DER) and market integration
- Electrification in the transport, residential and commercial sectors
- Renewable hydrogen
- Energy efficiency and demand management solutions
Since the ACT reached 100% renewable electricity in 2020, its attention has shifted to the next biggest source of emissions in transport and natural gas use. While not essential, the ACT Government encourages proposals that contribute towards these policy goals and help consolidate and grow the ACT’s renewable energy sector:
- Projects that integrate renewables with smart zero-emission transport, heating and hot water energy demands
- Projects that address the barriers to the greater uptake of zero emission vehicles
- With the increasing electrification of the transport sector, and in heating and cooking, there is an interest in projects that help reduce the risks of increasing peak electricity demand. Projects that address the resilience and reliability of the grid in the face of this transition will be of interest
- Projects that assist the transition pathway away from natural gas use for residential and commercial applications and address the associated impacts on consumers and the grid
- The re-purposing and recycling of renewable energy components and batteries
See the guidelines for full details of eligible and recommended projects.
Expenditure eligible for REIF support
To be eligible, expenditure must:
- be directly related to undertaking the project
- be incurred by the applicant within the project duration
- be a direct cost of the project and not be provided for the benefit or profit of related bodies
- meet the conditions set out in these guidelines and the Deed of Agreement
Grant funding does not cover:
- expenditure that does not directly support the successful completion of the project
- ongoing operational expenses
- salaries for positions that have already been accounted for in organisational budgets
- business-as-usual staff costs unrelated to the project
- activities carried out or committed to before the grant is offered and accepted
- legal costs associated with a consortium, disputes or funding arrangements not agreed to as part of the Deed of Agreement
- the purchase and installation of solar photo-voltaic panels or battery storage systems
See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible expenditure.
Information to prepare for the REIF application
The proposal must include:
- a detailed project description and objectives
- proposed project timeline
- project benefits and expected outcomes
- implementation plan, including timing of key milestones and deliverables
- a knowledge sharing plan
- the benefits of the funded activities to the ACT renewable energy ecosystem
- details on existing or proposed co-funding arrangements
See the guidelines and application form for full details of information requirements.
Applying for REIF
Applications are submitted online via the REIF Grants SmartyGrants portal.
Book a no obligation discovery session with GrantHelper to increase your chances of success.
REIF Grants Program assessment criteria
| Ref | Criteria | Weighting |
| 1 | Technical and commercial viability – Potential commercial opportunities and scalability – Business model and processes for research, trial, demonstration and deployment | 30% |
| 2 | Innovation and knowledge sharing – Innovative and transformative approach – Knowledge sharing strategy | 20% |
| 3 | Application quality and organisational capacity – Track record of successful delivery of similar programs and of managing risk – Understanding of and ability to obtain necessary approvals/permissions | 20% |
| 4 | Value for money – Requested funding proportionate to outcomes/benefits | 30% |
See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria.
REIF Grants Program resources
Scroll down for details of projects funded in previous rounds.
How do I get the REIF grants?
You should read and understand the guidelines.
You need to ensure you are eligible for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be considered.
Successful applicants will demonstrate:
- alignment with the program’s objectives by advancing a renewable energy research, development and innovation project
- a technically viable project, underpinned by a sound business model, that has potential for commercialisation and scalability
- sound processes for knowledge sharing
- a proven track record of project delivery, including risk management
- the necessary organisational capability and resources to deliver the proposed activity within the agreed timeline
Successful grants in previous rounds
| Organisation | Project | Funding |
| Round 2 (2020) | ||
| FlexeGraph | Create a nano-fluid that will exceed the performance of traditional coolants, increasing energy efficiency and longevity in a range of applications | $135,000 |
| Smart Blox | Develop modular solar panel and battery units in simple ‘plug and play’ blox | $50,441 |
| Evenergi | Develop a model for heavy electric emulation and optimisation using real life data. | $235,000 |
| Evoenergy | Provide 75 customers in the Ginninderry greenfield development with battery subsidies. | $250,000 |
| ITP Power | Develop a web-based energy storage optimisation tool that models the performance of PV systems and battery storage for residential, commercial customers or micro- and mini-grids | $88,040 |
| ITP Thermal | Develop and commercialise large-scale hydrogen storage in vertical shafts | $135,000 |
| PV Lab Australia | Develop a new, accredited, Australia first PV module testing facility | $219,830 |
| Round 1 (2017) | ||
| PV Lab Australia | Develop an Australian first testing for solar panel potential induced degradation (PID) | $63,070 |
| ITP Thermal | Develop solar energy storage solutions with ammonia. | $95,000 |
| Reposit | Develop and apply microgrid technology for solar and battery customers | $250,000 |
| ITP Renewables | Model pathways to a low-carbon National Electricity Market | $60,000 |
| Solcast | Rapid scaling and improvement of solar farm forecasting | $287,000 |
| Eco Spectral | Develop a system for residential, commercial and city-wide energy management using artificial intelligence and data analytics | $110,000 |
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