VIC Waste to Energy Fund
In February 2020, the Victorian Government announced a $10 million waste to energy support package as part of Recycling Victoria: a new economy. A key commitment of this action plan is to halve the volume of organic waste going to landfill by 2030. Anaerobic digestion is considered a priority for investment in supporting waste to energy infrastructure development.
The Waste to Energy Fund aims to support the development of innovative bioenergy projects and business models to enable the implementation of best-practice infrastructure that builds capability and capacity in Victoria’s bioenergy sector.
TIMELINE
- Applications open: Friday 1 July 2022
- Applications close: Friday 26 August 2022
- Notification of outcome: Expected January or February 2023.
- Funding agreements established: April 2023
- Projects commenced by: May 2023
- Project completed by: 31 March 2025
WHO CAN APPLY?
Funding is available to Applicants that propose to generate bioenergy using organic materials and can demonstrate that this solution is the best value option in the Waste Hierarchy.
Eligible organisations include:
- businesses, industry groups or associations
- local government
- research institutes
- Charities
- Community Groups
- Social Enterprises
- other Not-For-Profit organisations.
WASTE TO ENERGY FUND OVERVIEW
The fund is aimed at a range of sectors, including but not limited to:
- Agricultural and livestock
- Forestry
- Food production
- Food retail including the hotel industry
- Wastewater management
Projects must meet one or more of the following objectives:
- increase the production of bioenergy in Victoria
- increase the diversion of organic material from landfill
- increase abatement of greenhouse gases
- increase business opportunities, economic development, and beneficial use of pathways across the bioenergy supply chain.
The Fund aims to achieve the following outcomes:
- increase the capacity of Victoria’s renewable energy generation
- increase in the amount of organic material diverted from landfill
- decrease greenhouse gas emissions
- purchase, install, and commission bioenergy infrastructure
- increase local employment
- develop realistic feasibility studies and business cases
- develop market pathways for bioenergy end products
- develop and analyse the feedstock market network
- develop clear regulatory and approval pathways.
STREAMS OF FUNDING
The funding is available through two streams:
- Stream 1: Project development – supports Applicants to scope, test, and gain approvals to achieve pre-construction and pre-financial close phases of a bioenergy project.
- Stream 2: Project infrastructure – supports Applicants with a proven business case in the purchase, construction, and commissioning of infrastructure to convert organic matter to bioenergy.
This grant program is funded through the government’s circular economy policy, Recycling Victoria: a new economy
FUNDING AVAILABLE
For Stream 1, each project can receive a grant of between $20,000 and $250,000 (ex. GST).
For Stream 2, each project can receive a grant of between $50,000 and $1 million (ex. GST).
Applicants must contribute at least $1 for every $1 requested.
WHAT WILL BE FUNDED?
Funding for Stream 1 will support projects that:
- focus on feasibility studies, technical studies or the development of business cases relating to a proposed facility that will generate energy from organic waste
- require support in pre-financial close stages
- use agricultural cropping residues, such as cereal straw and chaff
- use waste and manure from poultry, dairy, piggeries, and other animal operations
- use general food waste from commercial and industrial hospitality and retail operations
- use food manufacturing and processing wastes (including dairy, fruit, nuts, wine, and meat)
- use forestry wood residues from forest harvesting and wood processing as a feedstock
- are small scale bioenergy projects using fruit and vegetable waste from horticulture residues
- generate energy from paper and pulp manufacturing and related processing waste (that can’t be recycled into paper products)
- process biosolids, sewage and sludge waste.
Projects must:
- align with the objectives of the Fund
- be implemented in and service Victoria
- meet regulatory or planning requirements
- not have commenced or will not commence prior to entering into a funding agreement with SV
- be completed by 31 March 2025.
Costs that will be funded include:
- technology selection costs
- feedstock identification and end market research and development
- conducting laboratory testing of incoming feedstock
- engineering, procurement, and construction tendering related costs
- consultancy or contract work required for the project
- conducting testing required for approvals
- planning and regulatory approval costs.
You can submit multiple applications. Each application must be for a different project. An application must not be for multiple projects.
Funding for Stream 2 will support projects for a proposed facility that:
- will process a minimum of 51% organic feedstock from Victoria
- require capital to generate bioenergy from organic material in the form of heat, electricity, renewable gas, or liquid fuels
- have a site selected in Victoria
- have the potential to be replicated at other sites in Victoria (same or similar industry)
- use agricultural cropping residues, such as cereal straw and chaff
- use waste and manure from poultry, dairy, piggeries, and other animal operations
- use general food waste from commercial and industrial hospitality and retail operations
- use food manufacturing and processing wastes (including dairy, fruit, nuts, wine, and meat)
- use forestry wood residues from forest harvesting and wood processing as a feedstock
- are small scale bioenergy projects using fruit and vegetable waste from horticulture residues
- generate energy from paper and pulp manufacturing and related processing waste (that can’t be recycled into paper products)
- process biosolids, sewage and sludge waste.
Projects must:
- have a proven business case and co-financing support to proceed with infrastructure purchase
- have the chosen technology selected
- align with the objectives of the Fund and Recycling Victoria: a new economy
- be implemented in and service Victoria
- meet regulatory or planning requirements and have these pathways established and secured
- not have commenced or will not commence prior to entering into a funding agreement with SV
- be completed by 31 March 2025.
Costs that will be funded include:
- capital purchases
- supporting machinery for new project development
- upgrades or additions to existing bioenergy infrastructure or equipment
- construction and commissioning costs
Costs must be related to the project in your application form.
You can submit multiple applications. Each application must be for a different project. An application must not be for multiple projects.
More Information
For further tips for lodging your Waste to Energy Fund claim,
Give us a call or schedule an assessment
Services
Ryan can assist with services such as:
- Scope your potential to claim various grant programs
- Assist with the preparation and lodgement of grant applications
- Review or provide a health check on your internally prepared grant applications
- Establish record-keeping practices as required under various grant programs
- Provide prepayment loans against future cash refunds under the R&D Tax Incentive
- Keeping industry informed on all new Government policy and grant initiatives
Don’t hesitate to give us a call or schedule a free assessment.