The Federal Government has announced the lifting of a ‘pause’ on all government grants programs – and renewable energy has emerged relatively unscathed from an associated cost cutting exercise.
Grants including support for manufacturers to invest in energy-efficient capital equipment and low-pollution technologies such as commercial solar power systems have been in limbo since the Federal Government put the freeze in place early last month while looking for savings.
While over $157m has been reefed out of the Federal grants program overall for 2012-13, only Solar Cities was reportedly a casualty in terms of clean energy, losing $100,000 in funding.
With the pause button now disengaged, those who may have been sluggish previously in applying for grants might now have a renewed fervour in pursuing the funding.
Some of the renewables related support available includes a 1:1 matching grant for companies with less than $100m revenue applying for a grant amount of less than $500,000.
These grants are available to food and foundry companies, manufacturers, some incorporated bodies and groups of companies related to those sectors; for example co-op solar farms supplying electricity to manufacturing hubs.
With the cost of electricity skyrocketing and biting deep into profits, solar energy is increasingly becoming a wise investment – with the added bonus of decreasing a company’s carbon footprint, an aspect often warmly welcomed by consumers.
While not a grant, small businesses not involved in the above sectors also have good reason to go solar now. Since the start of the 2012-13 tax year, small business is able to immediately write off assets to the value of $6,500 – including solar panel installations.
Commercial solar installer Energy Matters says companies interested in learning more about grants for solar and other forms of support for business should contact its commercial solar power team on 1300 553 213.
