Request for Applications: Powering Business Grants Program (Australia)

The objective of the Program is to support eligible small and medium sized businesses (or ‘SMEs’) (including not-for-profit organisations) to invest in energy efficient equipment or improvements to reduce and manage energy use and costs.

Investing in energy efficient equipment or improvements may also assist eligible businesses to:

• adopt more energy efficient practices
• provide environmentally friendly products and services
• avoid and reduce waste, and adopt new technologies and processes.

The Program is administered by the Office for Small and Family Business (the ‘OSFB’) within the Department of State Development (the ‘Department’), on behalf of the Treasurer of South Australia (the ‘Treasurer’). The Treasurer and any delegate (if appointed) has full discretion to vary eligibility for the Program and any other terms and conditions of the Program.

Funding Information

• A total of $20 million is available in 2025-26 to support eligible South Australian small and medium businesses and not-for-profit organisations, with grants ranging from $2,500 to a maximum of $75,000 per eligible business.Note that all grant amounts exclude GST.
• The government will provide assistance under the following two funding streams.
  • Stream 1: Solar and Battery Projects
    • Grants for battery or battery and solar projects based on the size and capacity of the system.
    • Battery and solar products must be listed on the Clean Energy Council (CEC) approved product list, be provided by eligible providers and installed by an appropriately accredited installer.
    • Solar panels and inverters are only eligible when purchased with accompanying battery storage.
  • Stream 2: Energy Efficiency Projects
    • Grants of up to 50% are available for equipment or infrastructure upgrades that reduce business energy usage or costs. This could include, new refrigeration equipment, building insulation and lighting upgrades.

Eligibility Criteria

• An eligible applicant must:
  • Hold a valid and active Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Be a current electricity customer that is connected to the network
  • Be a small or medium South Australian Entity (including both businesses and not-for-profit organisations)
  • Have an Australia-wide grouped payroll not greater than $18 million in the financial year 2024-25
  • Have annual business turnover of $75,000 or more in the financial year 2024-25
  • Be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) at the time this funding round commenced [note: not-for-profit organisations with annual business turnover between $75,000 and $149,999.99 are able to apply if not registered for GST].
  • Not be a home-based business (i.e. operating primarily from the owner’s, or an employee’s residence); unless a separately metered bill can be provided for the business entity (i.e. must have a separate NMI to the residential property);
  • Not be an excluded entity;
  • Own or lease the business premises where any work or goods will be installed or used; and
  • Be able to provide matched funding of at least 50 per cent of eligible out-of-pocket costs.

For more information, visit Government of South Australia.