Energy Grants

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION AUTHORITY

​​The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) have grants available to businesses to improve energy efficiency, energy conservation and transition to a low carbon economy . The description of these grants is summarised from the EECA website.

​EECA Co-Funding

Insulation and heater grants
Industry decarbonisation
Public sector decarbonisation
Energy & carbon reduction
Transport emission reduction
Energy transition
Technology demonstration
Training and events

Brief descriptions of some of the programmes and funds available are given below. To learn more visit the EECA website.

​EECA Energy Audit Grants

For business emitting more than 10,000 tonnes of carbon from stationary energy a year EECA advise "A qualified energy auditor will work with you to evaluate how energy is being used in your process and plant, to find cost-effective opportunities to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions. Co-funding is available for up to 40% of the cost of an energy audit (up to a maximum of $20,000). Eligible sites can get funding towards a detailed site audit or a system-focused investment-level audit – select the scope that suits your needs. Audit providers are members of Carbon and Energy Professionals New Zealand (CEP). They work to standards approved by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
Detailed energy audit (Type 2)
A detailed analysis of energy performance to quantify the full range of opportunities. It involves a comprehensive review and analysis of equipment systems, and operational characteristics of the whole facility, and makes quantified energy savings recommendations.
Precision energy audit (Type 3)
A detailed audit of specific subsystems, with additional data gathering and measurement to provide a higher level. They’re normally undertaken to support business cases for capital intensive upgrades that require more certainty around implementation costs and savings outcomes. Systems most suitable for a type 3 audit include compressed air, pump, fan and refrigeration systems”.  A full list of EECA-approved Programme Partners is available on the EECA Business website.

Visit the ECCA Business Website

Low Emission Transport Fund

EECA advise "Up to $25m a year in funding is available to support the demonstration and adoption of low emission transport technology, innovation and infrastructure to accelerate the decarbonisation of the New Zealand transport sector. The transport sector currently produces 47% of New Zealand's CO2 emissions, and between 1990 and 2018, domestic transport emissions increased by 90%. With transport decarbonisation playing a key role in New Zealand's progress towards our 2050 goals, the Government is extending its investment into reducing transport emissions with the Low Emission Transport Fund (LETF). This fund builds on the now complete Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund (LEVCF), with an increase in size and scope. EECA will continue to administer the fund on behalf of the Government.
Objectives of the Fund
The LETF will support the demonstration of high potential and replicable solutions, and adoption of low emission transport technology, innovation and infrastructure to help accelerate the decarbonisation of the New Zealand transport sector. The fund will stimulate the uptake of low emission solutions, while providing additional knowledge and learnings for further replication to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport. Early action can start to accelerate wider deployment for demonstrated and critical low emission pathway solutions at a supported commercial scale. The fund will focus on activities in the transport sector that move people and/or goods on roads, off-road, and in the marine and aviation sectors to:

demonstrate innovative solutions that will enable future adoption and deployment
reduce energy related emissions in the transport sector
address market and organisational barriers through co-investment and diffusion of new knowledge and learnings, and
share knowledge and learnings to stimulate wider replication of successful projects and solutions in the transport sector.

Wider transport systems and activities (such as building roads, urban design, mode shift policy) are excluded.  To best deliver the outcomes of the LETF, the Fund is divided into a portfolio of investment activities which will be released to the market as individual funding rounds for co-funding in each area within the scope of the fund. An announcement will be made in advance of each new activity. Round 1: Demonstration of vehicles and technology$3.4 million will be available in the 2021-22 financial year for vehicle and technology projects.Round 2: Adoption of Public Charging Infrastructure$4.0 million will be available in the 2021-22 financial year for public charging infrastructure projects.
Further rounds will open in 2022 with additional focus areas, including off-road and in the marine and aviation sectors". To learn more visit the EECA Business website.

​Energy Graduate Support

EECA advise "Co-funding for an energy graduate’s salary costs, to help your business analyse how energy is being used and find the best ways to make savings. Employing a newly-trained engineer or science graduate can ensure businesses commit the time and resource needed to analyse how energy is being used and the best ways to make savings. What's on offer, co-funding for up to 50% of an energy graduate’s salary costs capped at $70,000 over two years, depending on experience and skills.
The scope of the role or projects needs to be defined, such as:

process and energy flow mapping (energy and mass balances)
computer based energy modelling
investigating plant and process modifications, and conducting trials
investigating fuel switching opportunities
raising energy savings awareness in the business
assisting with project commissioning and verifying energy savings and associated carbon reduction.

Public organisations or private sector businesses may be eligible if:

you spend more than $1 million a year on energy and have high carbon emissions
the proposed investigations and employment are not business-as-usual
your business has a genuine barrier to undertaking the projects without support
the graduate can be supported and mentored by an energy manager or similar
the site has an energy management plan/strategy in place.

The role or project must deliver energy savings and carbon reduction which represent good value for government funding". To learn more visit the EECA Business website.

​ECCA Technology Demonstration Co-Funding

The purpose of the fund is to demonstrate “the potential of new technology or a process improvement opportunity in New Zealand. The fund supports the early adoption of proven technology or an innovative process improvement opportunity that has yet to be widely deployed in New Zealand. The project may improve energy efficiency and/or reduce carbon emissions. Co-funding for up to 40% of the costs of an eligible project, generally limited to $100,000. Projects that result in energy and carbon savings through process heat technology or processes can apply for funding of up to $250,000. Occasionally EECA may offer dedicated funding rounds for specified technologies of interest with revised funding amounts. The programme is open to New Zealand registered businesses who want to either:

install energy efficient and/or renewable energy technologies, or
implement an innovative energy efficiency or renewable energy process improvement opportunity in New Zealand”.

Project Requirements

EECA advise that project must:

“reduce energy intensity or greenhouse gas emissions
be applicable to multiple businesses in a sector
be financially viable, with a reasonable payback period
meet minimum cost-effectiveness requirements for energy benefits and carbon emission reductions.
For technology-related projects, the technology must be commercially available.

You must commit to having your project independently monitored, and to promoting the project and outcomes. Priority is given to technologies that could be used by multiple businesses and across industry sectors. Projects won’t be considered if they have already started or will happen anyway”. In addition other conditions apply. To check if your project meets the funding criteria contact EECA.

​Climate Change Funding

Support for actions to respond to climate change is available. This ranges from from green investment finance, clean technology, emissions calculators, decarbonisng industry, through to CRI climate change research. For more information about government and other support for climate change mitigation visit our climate funding webpage. 

Climate Change Funding and Grants