Clean technology innovation is one of the 3 focus areas within Net Zero Industry and Innovation. Through this work we support the development and continued innovation of emerging clean technologies to help NSW shift to net zero emissions by 2050.
By investing in the next wave of innovative, low emissions technologies, we will work with industry to overcome technical and commercial barriers and build capacity across the state. This will position NSW as a leading investment destination and unlock export opportunities in coming decades.
Our clean technology innovation priority areas are guided by the NSW Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer’s (OCSE) decarbonisation innovation study.
These priority areas include, but are not limited to:
- electrification and energy systems – accelerating renewable energy solutions and supporting uptake of electrification in other sectors
- land and primary industries – coordinating and aligning efforts in the next wave of sustainable primary industry practices
- power fuels including hydrogen – growing an environmentally sustainable NSW power fuels industry and unlocking decarbonisation opportunities for many high emitting and hard-to-abate sectors.
Learn more about our streams of work and how you can get involved.
NSW decarbonisation innovation hub
Bringing together researchers, industry and government to accelerate new technologies to decarbonise NSW. This $15 million initiative will help create new jobs and high-tech businesses, while developing expertise in emission reduction technology.
The Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer (OCSE) will oversee the Hub’s work until 2030.
For more information:
Clean technology research and development grants
Supporting the development of commercially viable technologies and services to reduce emissions in high emitting or hard-to-abate industries. This $40 million grant initiative is administered by the NSW Environmental Trust.
Under round 1, 4 projects have received a combined $6.3 million in funding. Read more about these successful projects.
Expressions of interest (EOI) for round 2 closed on 9 December 2022. Under this round, up to $14 million funding is available, with individual grants between $400,000 and $3 million. Note, applicants must be able to match the grant funding with cash and in-kind contributions.
To learn more about the grants, visit the NSW Environmental Trust.
Research, development and commercialisation infrastructure grants
Funding clean technology research, development and commercialisation infrastructure in NSW.
This $45 million grant initiative invests in infrastructure to accelerate the innovation of clean technologies. This will help significantly reduce emissions in high-emitting and hard-to-abate industries across the state.
EOIs for these grants closed on 22 April 2022. Successful applicants have progressed to the full application stage. Further rounds may be considered in 2023.
Commercialisation and pilots
Supporting start-ups, entrepreneurs and researchers to bring proven low emission technologies and services to market in Australia and internationally.
Grants for commercialisation and pilots
There are 2 grants available in this stream of work:
1. Clean technology commercialisation grants
This $40 million grant initiative accelerates the commercialisation and scaling-up of proven clean technology innovations for trade in Australian and international markets.
EOIs for these grants closed on 3 June 2022. Successful applicants have progressed to the full application stage. Further rounds may be considered in 2023.
2. Clean technology ecosystems grants
This $10 million grant initiative supports incubators, pre-accelerators, accelerators, and other similar initiatives. It will provide funding for them to equip clean technology start-ups and researchers with the skills and resources they need to succeed.
EOIs for these grants closed on 22 April 2022. Successful applicants have progressed to the full application stage. Further rounds may be considered in 2023.
Climate technology venture capital fund
This fund will invest in early-stage climate technology start-ups. It will focus on climate technology with a hardware component. The funding includes a $20 million cornerstone investment from the NSW Government, with private sector investment of at least $20 million.
The fund will:
- support start-ups to grow into high-performing businesses that help decarbonise our economy
- build climate technology investment capability in the early-stage investor community
- help develop a climate technology ecosystem, establishing NSW as a leader in this sector.
We are currently appointing a fund manager to establish and manage the fund. Request for proposals closed on 2 September 2022. Shortlisted proposals will be invited to tender, and we will publish the successful manager on this page.
If you have any questions, contact us at [email protected].
Low emissions specifications
Exploring opportunities to develop and promote the use of voluntary specifications to drive uptake of low emissions technologies and materials. This may include:
- voluntary standards and specifications for energy consuming products, services and processes
- accelerating the uptake of low emissions building materials standards and specifications
- ratings and voluntary standards for sustainable homes.
Unlocking sustainable finance
Facilitating the flow of sustainable finance to the NSW clean technology sector. As part of this, we will explore opportunities to:
- co-design suitable methods, standards and metrics to attract investment to net zero and natural positive opportunities in NSW
- co-design innovative funding and financing models
- develop pathways for investment attraction.
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