The Federal Government has announced the first 13 grants from its $1 billion Clean Technology Investment Program, aimed at assisting manufacturers significantly reduce their energy bills.

 

The Minister for Industry and Innovation, Greg Combet, said the initial grants, worth $8.1 million, will help businesses install over $23 million of energy efficient equipment.

 

Five grants from the Clean Technology Investment Program and eight from the Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program will support energy saving and low pollution projects.

 

"The Clean Technology Investment Programs are part of the Federal Government’s plan for a Clean Energy Future. They deliver practical help for businesses to become more efficient, more competitive and more sustainable,” Mr Combet said.

 

"Over coming years the Clean Technology Investment Programs are expected to support around 3,000 projects and help many manufacturers reduce their energy use." Manufacturers can apply at any time and AusIndustry will work with businesses to promote the Programs and help with applications.

 

The first recipients are:

 

Clean Technology Investment Programs – Approved Applications

Applicant

Grant amount

Location

Project description

CSR Building Products Ltd

$1,007,733

Bradford Insulation,  Ingleburn, NSW

Install gas-fired cogeneration system.

CSR Building Products Ltd

$250,000

Tile production site, Vermont, Victoria

Install high temperature off-take on kiln and utilise waste heat to feed tunnel dryer, reducing gas consumption.

G.H. Varley Pty Ltd

$143,886

Tomago, NSW

Replace inefficient air conditioning and introduce voltage regulation equipment to increase plant efficiency.

Amcor Packaging (Australia) Pty Ltd

$45,000

Box making plant, Scoresby, Victoria

Install voltage optimiser units, reducing electricity consumption.

Amcor Packaging (Australia) Pty Ltd

$44,240

Aluminium can manufacturing, Canning Vale, WA

Replace DOL and DC motors across aluminium can body makers’ coolant pumps and conveying systems with AC motors, improving energy efficiency.

Bega Cheese Ltd

$282,619

Two sites at Bega, NSW

Seven sub-projects including implementing variable fan speeds in cool rooms, improving efficiency of chilled water heat exchanger, heat recovery, lighting upgrades and variable head pressure controls.

Fonterra Brands (Australia) Pty Ltd

$152,881

Milk processing plant, Wagga Wagga, NSW

Replace outdated refrigeration system with energy efficient water-cooled ammonia refrigeration.

Crafty Chef Pty Ltd

$499,999

Food production facility, Emu Plains, NSW

Replace blast freezer system with industrial spiral freezer system using ammonia refrigerant, reducing energy consumption.

D.T.R. Holdings Pty Ltd

$300,000

Food product manufacturing, Bundaberg, Queensland

Replace High Pressure Processing unit with new, more efficient system.

De Bortoli Wines

$4,829,405

Five wine-making sites in NSW, Queensland and Victoria

Energy reduction project across wine making, packaging, warehousing and site services areas through using grid power more efficiently, replacing old equipment and use of solar technology.

Rickety Gate Trust

$67,887

Winery, Denmark, WA

Install 22.8 kW solar power system with battery backup.

Matilda’s Winery Pty Ltd

$40,643

Winery, Denmark, WA

Install 23.7 kW solar power system.

Ferngrove Vineyards Ltd

$446,390

Winery, Frankland River, Western Australia

Install solar power system.