Clean Energy Future Fund - Round 1 Documents

CEFF - Round 1 Documents
Last updated:

Note these documents refer to round 1 which has closed. Documents for round 2 may differ.

Clean Energy Future Fund - Questions and Answers

If you have questions regarding the grant program, you can direct them to ceff@dwer.wa.gov.au. For fairness reasons, all questions and responses that provide additional information to applicants will be published here. Questions may be combined or edited for clarity or to protect the identity of the sender. If you have subscribed for email updates, you will be notified of new answers posted. If you haven’t subscribed, you should check back regularly.

Question Answer
Will I receive the full amount in my funding application if my application is successful? Successful applicants may be offered less funding than the amount sought. 
Can my project run for more than one year? Yes. Projects must complete within five years of starting.
Section 3.3.1 of the applicant guidelines eligibility criterion 1 excludes unincorporated entities, and lists examples including a partnership. If a partner helps with my project does this exclude it?

The applicant must be an Australian entity incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Commonwealth).

A partnership as a formal company structure is not eligible, as it is not an incorporated company under the Corporations Act. 
My project does not meet the Ministerial Priorities. Can I still apply? Applicants whose projects may not align directly with the Ministerial Priorities may still apply for funding. Subject to satisfying eligibility requirements, all projects will be assessed on merit, including those which do not align with Ministerial Priorities. 
My project does not meet the NGERS threshold. Can I still apply?

Projects that do not meet, or are not expected to meet, facility-level reporting thresholds under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 may still apply for funding.

Subject to satisfying eligibility requirements, all projects will be assessed on merit, including those which do not align with Ministerial Priorities.
Government trading enterprises and local governments are not eligible organisations. Could these form a consortium to apply?

The applicant must be an Australian entity incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Commonwealth).

Local governments and government trading enterprises may seek to form a consortium with an eligible organisation.
How do you plan to assess the Additional Benefits merit criterion? Applications will be assessed against the overall value of the elements listed in this criterion.
Will there be another round next year, and if so, what time of year? Future funding rounds will depend on various factors, including funds available.

How much justification of the need for government assistance do you need to provide?

For example, for an early stage project or innovative technology?

Government seeks to maximise value for money by excluding projects likely to proceed without public funding and those projects unlikely to be successful with funding.

Applicants are required to demonstrate why funding is required to support project viability as well as the project’s technical feasibility and likelihood of success.

For innovative or early stage projects, applicants should demonstrate the case for commercialisation or deployment of the technology at scale.
Is there a target emissions reduction percentage for applications?

Projects will be assessed on the basis of anticipated direct and indirect emissions reduction.

Proposals with greater reductions are likely to attract a higher merit score under this criterion. Assessment will also consider the potential ongoing emissions reductions from a project.
Are field trials or feasibility studies eligible?

Yes. The fund supports design, deployment, testing or demonstration of innovative clean energy projects likely to deliver community benefits or lead to broad adoption and significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Field trials or feasibility studies may not generate significant emissions reduction, and may therefore not attract a high merit score under this criterion.
Is there a map or definition of which areas are considered fringe of grid? 

There is not a legal definition. Generally, fringe of grid is considered to be at or close to the edge of the distribution network, where there is a low density of customers (which can sometimes be well within the South West Interconnected System) or where location is causing reliability, quality, electrical loss, or cost issues. The grid refers to the State’s two largest electricity networks, the South West Interconnected System and North West Interconnected System.

This is not an eligibility criterion, so projects in other locations may still apply.
Where can I get help and advice on supplying to government? The Industry Link Advisory Service provides a range of services to help local businesses access more potential government supply opportunities.
Can future technical work undertaken by directors qualify as part of our 75% of costs if we don’t pay ourselves a salary?

The Clean Energy Future Fund will contribute up to maximum of 25 per cent of eligible costs to successful projects. See section 5 of the applicant guidelines which outlines expenditure that is likely to be eligible and costs which may not be eligible.

Regarding future technical work undertaken by directors, the following matters are likely to be considered in determining whether this is eligible expenditure:

  • Whether the person doing the work is qualified to do it?
  • Whether the work directly relates to clear deliverables or specific services required to meet a specified milestone(s)?
  • Whether the work is charged at a normal commercial rate?

Eligible costs will be agreed in the Funding Agreement.