Driving a clean industrial revolution

The Net Zero Industry and Innovation Program is the NSW Government's plan to support and partner with industry to reduce emissions and help NSW businesses prosper in a low carbon world. By accelerating the development of clean technology and decarbonisation, we will grow the economy, support jobs and significantly reduce emissions.

This program is part of the NSW Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020-2030 to reduce emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.

Net Zero Industry and Innovation Program has three focus areas:

Clean technology innovation 

Supporting the development and continued innovation of emerging clean technologies.

This focus area will enable knowledge sharing, capacity building and collaboration between researchers, industry and government.

The technologies it supports will be guided by the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer decarbonisation innovation study. Priorities include, but are not limited to:

• electrification and energy systems
• land and primary industries
• power fuels including hydrogen

This focus area has six streams of work:

1. Clean technology research and development grants – apply now!

NOW OPEN - Expression of interest (EOI) for the clean technology research and development (R&D) grants. 
These grants support the development of commercially viable technologies and services to reduce emissions in high emitting or hard-to-abate industries. 

EOIs close on Tuesday 23 November 2021 at 5.00pm (AEDT).

These grants are administered by the NSW Environmental Trust. Visit their website for more information and to submit an EOI.

2. NSW decarbonisation innovation hub

The NSW decarbonisation innovation hub will coordinate research, government and industry efforts across the program’s  three priority areas.
The NSW Office of the Chief Scientist & Engineer is administering the hub and will appoint organisations to host the hub in late 2021.

For more information, visit the Office of Chief Scientist & Engineer’s website. 

3. Research development and commercialisation infrastructure grants 

These grants will support the development of world-leading research, development and commercialisation infrastructure in NSW to accelerate the shift to net zero emissions by 2050. 

More information on how to apply for these grants will be available in late 2021.

4. Grants for commercialisation and pilots

These grants will support start-ups, entrepreneurs and researchers to bring proven technologies and services to market in Australia and internationally. 

More information on how to apply for these grants will be available in early 2022.

5. Low emissions standards 

We will explore opportunities to develop new low emissions standards relating to the design and installation of energy consuming technology. This may include: 

• voluntary standards and specifications for energy consuming products, services and processes 
• accelerating the uptake of low emissions building materials standards and specifications 
• ratings and voluntary standards for sustainable homes.

6. Unlocking sustainable finance

Focusing on facilitating the flow of sustainable finance to NSW low emissions projects, we will explore opportunities to:

• co-design suitable methods, standards and metrics to attract investment in net zero and natural capital opportunities in NSW
• co-design innovative funding and financing models
• develop pathways for investment attraction.

New low carbon industry foundations 

Laying the foundations for low emissions industries by:

• building enabling infrastructure and increasing capability of our supply chains, and
• fostering and supporting emerging clean manufacturing precincts in NSW.

Clean manufacturing precincts decarbonisation roadmaps – apply now

NOW OPEN - Expression of interest (EOI) for clean manufacturing precincts decarbonisation roadmaps. 

We have funding to develop industrial decarbonisation roadmaps and implementation plans in the Hunter and Illawarra regions. These will help hard-to-abate industrial sectors accelerate their shift to net zero emissions. 

EOIs close on Tuesday 16 November 2021 at 5.00pm (AEDT).

Learn more about the EOI
 

Developing hydrogen hubs for NSW

At least $70 million funding has been allocated to develop hydrogen hubs in NSW with a focus on the Hunter and Illawarra regions. An initiative to develop hydrogen hubs across NSW is planned to launch in market before the end of October.

These hydrogen hubs will play a critical role in growing a thriving NSW hydrogen industry. Read more about the future of hydrogen in the NSW Hydrogen Strategy.

For more information email [email protected].

High emitting industries  

The biggest opportunity for decarbonisation in NSW industry sits with a relatively small number of existing high emitting industries.

To help these industries shift to net zero and deliver significant emissions reduction by 2030, $380 million has been allocated to support major plant and equipment upgrades.

From late 2021, we will begin working with some of the largest manufacturing facilities in NSW to scope transformative industrial projects to fast-track their emissions reductions.

Funding cycles

Net Zero Industry and Innovation will provide a range of funding opportunities for industry and business. More information about the funding cycles can be found here.

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