Low Emissions Industry Program FAQs

This program will help manufacturing and mining facilities that reported emissions under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Scheme reduce their emissions. 

The objectives of the Low Emissions Industry Program are to: 

• drive emissions reductions by co-funding projects at manufacturing and mining facilities
• future proof NSW industrial assets by supporting their transition to net zero
• maintain economic resilience and protect jobs in our industrial sectors. 

Decarbonising manufacturing and mining sectors will: 

• help NSW reach net zero by 2050
• improve air quality
• grow and diversify our economy
• create new jobs
• improve our energy security
• provide businesses with more choices to increase their revenue and productivity, produce higher-value products, grow new low carbon industries and reduce emissions. 

We’re providing $40 million to implement abatement projects at NSW manufacturing and mining facilities. Businesses can apply for between $500,000 and $10 million, covering up to 50% of project costs. This will significantly reduce their emissions and strengthen their resilience into the future. 

The Low Emissions Industry Program funding is available to NSW manufacturing and mining facilities that:

• reported emissions under the National Greenhouse Energy Reporting (NGER) Scheme in the 2024-25 reporting year
• have an abatement project that will be fully commissioned and operational by 30 June 2030
• are not oil and gas facilities
• are not a Safeguard facility. 

Read the ‘eligibility criteria’ section in the guidelines for a complete list of all eligibility criteria 

Funding can be used to support detailed design, procurement, construction and commissioning. However, your project must become operational by 30 June 2030. That means we can’t fund design activities if the design does not lead to a constructed project that abates carbon emissions at your facility within this timeframe. 

The duration of each project depends on its complexity. However, all projects must be fully commissioned and operational by 30 June 2030.  

Yes. We encourage applications with multi-disciplinary expertise and financial co-contributions. You should highlight the strength of your project’s collaboration in your application. The lead applicant must have operational control of the facility where the abatement project takes place and meet all the eligibility criteria. 

Yes. You can apply for funding if your business has also received other government funding. However, you must clearly demonstrate that your application could not proceed without the Low Emissions Industry Program funding. The total NSW Government funding can’t exceed 50% of your total project costs.

No. Your project must be located and delivered within NSW to be eligible for this funding. 

No. Funding is only available for organisations registered in Australia with an active Australian Business Number (ABN). However, if an international organisation partners with an Australian business with an active ABN that is leading the application, then this application may be eligible. 

We’re aware that NSW or Australia may not have the necessary expertise for your project. You can source expertise outside of NSW if your project benefits NSW. 

You must contribute at least 50% of your project's eligible costs. Higher contributions are preferred and the final funding amount will be determined after your application is assessed.  

Your organisation can provide the minimum 50% contribution or through arrangements with partner organisations not affiliated with the NSW Government, such as ARENA or private organisations.

Read ‘Appendix C’ in the guidelines for more information about eligible costs. 

If you have questions about your project's eligibility, read the guidelines. If you still need clarification, email us at [email protected] 

You must apply via our online grant management system.  

Read ‘Appendix B’ in the guidelines for detailed information about what you must provide in your application.

This is a competitive grant opportunity. Applications open on 9 March and close on 9 June, 11:00pm (AEST). After the submission deadline, applications will be comparatively assessed. At the end of the assessment process, we’ll notify all applicants of the outcome of their application.

Read the ‘key dates and timeframes’ section in the guidelines for more details. 

Yes. You can submit more than one application. If you have more than one project at separate facilities, you must prepare and submit a separate application for each facility to be considered for funding. A single project can have multiple components, but must occur at one facility.  

Read the ‘supported activities’ section in the guidelines for more details. 

You need to provide as much supplementary material as possible to support your evidence for each question.

Read ‘Appendix B’ in the guidelines for more information on what evidence is required to demonstrate the eligibility and merit of your project. This is outlined for each eligibility and merit criterion. It includes but is not limited to documentation around: 

• insurance
• finance
• licensing agreements
• emissions data
• technology 
• project planning
• risks and mitigations
• knowledge sharing. 

You’ll be notified by email via our grant management system that your application has been received. If you do not receive this notification or have any other queries regarding your application, email us at [email protected] 

We’ll assess your application against the eligibility criteria. If it is eligible, your application will progress to the merit assessment by our independent assessors and a review by the Assessment Review Committee. All criteria are outlined in the guidelines. Eligible applications are competitively evaluated. 

You’ll be notified of your assessment outcome in writing from November after grant applications close and assessment is complete.

Read the ‘key dates and timeframes’ section in the guidelines for more details. 

Yes. If you’re unsuccessful, we’ll advise you in writing on how to seek feedback on your application. 

Businesses can apply for between $500,000 and $10 million, covering up to 50% of project costs. We can consider applications for projects that exceed the maximum grant amount in exceptional circumstances.  

The grant amount depends on the abatement potential and size of your project. If your application is successful, the final funding amount will be determined during the assessment process.

No. Cash contributions can be from any source. However, NSW Government funding from any department cannot exceed 50% of the total eligible costs. All contributions must be confirmed before funding is awarded. Any conditions or requirements of contribution funding must also be compatible with these grants. 

No. Only monetary contributions will be considered. 

No. Only new contributions will be considered. 

Contribution funding should be confirmed by the time you submit your application. If there is likely to be a delay in confirming contribution funds, you should advise us as early as possible via email at [email protected]. We will not enter into a funding agreement unless you have confirmed contribution funding. This may include letters from funding bodies or private investors. 

Read the ‘merit criteria’ section in the guidelines for more details. 

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (Department) has legal obligations under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) in relation to the collection, storage, access, use and disclosure of personal information. When collecting your personal information, we’ll provide you with a privacy statement at the time of collection that details how this information will be managed in accordance with privacy law. 

We’ll consider additional rounds based on the market response and results of this funding round.  

It depends. You cannot change your application once the assessment process has commenced. If your application is successful and your project has changed, we’ll discuss this with you and we may need to reassess your project.