Renewable Energy Innovation Fund (REIF) Direct Grants
Request for Expressions of Interest
1 Canberra, the knowledge economy, and the jobs of the future
Canberra is a dynamic, knowledge-based economy with a vibrant R&D and start-up culture.
The ACT’s commitment to 100% renewable electricity by 2020 puts it in the lead, both nationally and
internationally in renewable energy policy. But the ACT’s renewable energy programs are delivering
much more than renewable electricity to the people of Canberra at the lowest possible price.
The ACT’s renewable energy and energy storage programs are also creating new research and trades
training opportunities, attracting international renewable energy companies to the Territory,
expanding the horizons of companies already here, and creating new commercial opportunities for
new and emerging ventures, creating the jobs of the future for Canberrans.
2 Renewable Energy Innovation Fund
The $12 million industry-funded Renewable Energy Innovation Fund (REIF) was announced in
December 2015 with the purpose of driving the long-term development and sustainability of the
renewable energy industry in the ACT.
REIF has been created from industry contributions associated with the ACT Government’s first and
second wind auctions. REIF is administered by the ACT Government, with the Minister for Climate
Change and Sustainability (the Minister) as the ultimate decision-maker for the allocation of REIF
funding. In allocating REIF funds, the Minister receives input and guidance from the Business
Advisory Board (BAB), comprising seven leaders from the ACT region’s business and academic
community.
3 REIF Funding Streams
From inception, REIF has had four principal funding streams to support the long-term development
and sustainability of the renewable energy ecosystem in the ACT. These funding streams comprise:
1. Renewable Energy Research Partnerships – to further develop the capability of the ACT’s
world-class research institutions to provide applied research services to renewable energy
and energy storage businesses.
An initial investment by the fund will see the Australian National University expand its worldclass capability in the grid integration of battery storage, providing applied research and
education services for local energy industries.
2. Renewable Energy Trades Training – to establish world-class training facilities and programs
for wind, solar and distributed battery storage installation. This will build on initiatives such
as the Renewable Energy Skills Centre of Excellence at the Canberra Institute of Technology,
which is building training services for renewable energy industry technicians and for upskilling electrical trades for new energy technologies.
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3. Renewables Innovation Hub – to provide practical accommodation support and networking
opportunities to new and existing renewable energy, renewable energy enablement and
energy storage businesses in the ACT. This includes support for identifying market
opportunities and mentoring for early-stage businesses.
A Renewable Energy Innovation Hub has been established in Canberra’s renewable energy
precinct, in Canberra city and across the road from Australian National University. The
1100m2 space provides a co-working space for a broad range of renewable energy-related
businesses, regulators and researchers. While REIF has provided start-up funding, the plan is
for the Hub to transition to self-funding over the next three years.
4. Emerging Technologies and Ventures – to support the demonstration of innovative
technologies, build industry capacity and reduce deployment costs of renewable energy and
energy storage. Approximately $2 million has been reserved to provide grant funding to
support the development of new and emerging renewable energy technologies and
ventures, through a new Innovation Connect (ICon) Renewables stream and REIF Direct
Grants stream:
a) ICon Renewables stream – to support the development of seed-stage ventures, the ICon
Renewables stream intends to provide, through a competitive process, a small number
of grants of up to $30,000 each over three years plus supported business
accommodation at the Renewables Innovation Hub.
b) REIF Direct Competitive Grants stream – to support the development of a diversity of
new and emerging technologies and ventures, REIF Direct Grants stream will provide
direct support to businesses, generally at larger funding amounts than the ICon
Renewables stream.
4 REIF Direct Grants
It is an exciting time to be in the renewable energy and energy storage sector as the world
transitions to a zero net emissions economy. Energy markets globally are transitioning away from
traditional centralised models to a more dynamic, decentralised web of energy generation, storage
devices and control systems. But many significant challenges remain in meeting this new global
energy future.
REIF Direct Grants seek to provide flexible, early-stage funding to support a broad diversity of new
and emerging technologies and ventures with the potential to deliver on the energy vision of the
future, and support the development of the ACT as an export oriented hub for renewable energy
innovation and investment.
5 This Expression-of-Interest (EOI) process
This request-for-EOI process will explore the scope and nature of market interest in REIF Direct
Grant funding, and inform future policy and process design. In considering EOIs, it may be decided to
enter into direct negotiations with any proponent, or to defer some or all proposals to a subsequent
process. These decisions will be made by the Minister, at his absolute discretion, with advice from
the Business Advisory Board. This will be consistent with the REIF Direct Grants flowchart at
Appendix A.
The closing date for EOIs is Friday 27 February 2016.
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6 What activities do REIF Direct Grants support?
REIF Direct Grants aim to support a broad diversity of funded activities consistent with the Funding
Scope Definition provided at Appendix B. Compared to other funding streams under REIF, the Direct
Grants will contribute to the development of Canberra’s renewable energy innovation ecosystem by
focussing on demonstration and scale-up of new technologies and ventures.
7 What funding is available through REIF Direct Grants?
While there is no minimum or maximum amount of funding that can be sought by applicants for REIF
Direct Grants, the intention is to support a large number and a diverse range of projects over the life
of this funding stream. In considering EOIs, especially with regard to potentially larger funding
amounts, the BAB will be looking for how REIF money will be leveraged from private and/or other
public funding sources, and the direct commercial returns to the ACT economy.
Proposed funded activities that are deemed to be better suited to the ICon Renewables Stream may
receive feedback suggesting that the applicant consider that alternative funding stream.
8 Selection process
Appendix A provides a flow chart illustrating the selection process under the REIF Direct Grants
program.
In the first instance, applicants must submit an electronic EOI through REIF Direct Grants webpage
on the Renewables Innovation Hub website. In no more than 3000 characters (approximately 500
words), the EOI must describe the purpose, scope and benefits of the funded activities (see
Appendix C for details).
Within five working days of receipt of the EOI, the high-level summary of each EOI (provided by the
applicant) will be posted on the REIF Direct Grants business website found at the Renewables
Innovation Hub website. Applicants are encouraged to review all high-level summaries to identify
potential opportunities for collaboration with other proposals where there are synergies and/or
where such collaboration could maximise the benefits to the local renewable energy industry.
The ACT Government reserves the right to initiate discussions between two or more applicants
where it deems that collaboration between such applicants would likely result in greater benefits to
the renewable energy ecosystem in the Territory. Applicants electing to proceed with the
collaboration must notify the ACT Government and withdraw their existing proposal, and will be
provided with the opportunity to re-submit a revised EOI reflecting the collaborative plan and
contributions. Applicants electing to submit a revised collaborative EOI will be viewed favourably.
9 Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a REIF Direct Grant:
1. the application must be for activities that come within the Funding Scope Definition (see
Appendix B);
2. the applicant receiving the grant must be a corporate entity with an Australian Business
Number (ABN). Universities and other organisations are eligible only to the extent that a
separate corporate entity is formed or exists with an independent ABN and with the purpose
of undertaking and commercially benefitting from the proposed funded activities; and
3. the majority of the proposed funded activities must occur within the ACT;
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10 Selection Criteria
REIF Direct Grants will support a broad diversity of projects that contribute to the ACT Government’s
vision of Canberra as an internationally recognised centre for renewable energy innovation and
investment.
Assessed on a value-for-money basis, EOIs will be considered against the following selection criteria:
1. The level of innovation, potential demonstration and scale-up of new technologies and
ventures;
2. The extent of potential commercial activity flowing from the funded activity;
3. The capacity of the proponent to deliver the funded activity, deliver the purported benefits
and manage risk;
4. The extent of the proponent’s existing or new commitment to grow Canberra’s renewable
energy innovation ecosystem, including in relation to the Renewables Precinct or the
Renewables Innovation Hub; and
5. The ability of the proposal to leverage the REIF Direct Grant with other private and/or public
funds or other resources.
Applicants seeking a greater financial commitment from REIF Direct Grants will necessarily attract a
greater burden of assessment.
11 How to Apply
Expressions of Interest applications are submitted electronically via the REIF Direct Grants webpage
found at the Renewables Innovation Hub website.
12 Further Information
For further information please contact:
Megan Ward
[email protected]
02 6205 4598
Jawad Shamsi [email protected]
02 6207 8310
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Appendix A – REIF Direct Grants flowchart
Start
Submit 500 word REIF Direct Grant EOI
via website?
EOI eligible?
No
Yes
High-level summaries posted on REIF Direct
Grants website within five business days
ACT Government may initiate discussions
between applicants where collaboration is
likely to result in greater benefits to the
Territory’s renewable energy industry
Business Advisory Board (BAB) reviews EOI
BAB requests
presentation?
No
Yes
Applicant presentation and Q&A
Recommendation
for Grant?
No
Yes
Minister reviews application and
recommendation, and may request further
information from any source
Minister
approves Grant?
No
Yes
REIF Administrator awards a
Direct Grant to Applicant
Wherever possible constructive
feedback is provided to the Applicant
Finish
Finish
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Appendix B – Funding Scope Definition
The renewables industry is defined as any industry that generates or enables the effective use of
energy obtained from natural resources that can be constantly replenished.
The Renewable Energy Innovation Fund (REIF) Business Advisory Board adopts an inclusive approach
to inviting business participation in REIF funding streams and associated initiatives. At the heart of
this approach is the understanding that transitioning to renewable, decarbonised energy supplies
requires innovation and collaboration across traditional realms of knowledge and practice. We
expect new solutions to emerge that might not fit easily into old categories.
The Board particularly sees that renewables energy industries will traverse traditional supply-side
and demand-side categories. Innovation will occur across engineering, ICT, finance and social
science. Knowledge sharing across these domains, and the co-design of solutions, is increasingly
important.
The opportunity for sectors of the economy to advance a decarbonised society supplied by
renewable energy is similarly broad, extending across tertiary education, trades training, research,
design, manufacturing, ICT and financial services.
The benefits of REIF will be maximised by targeting funding into a range of ‘focus areas’ which align
with the natural competitive advantages of Canberra’s research, education and business sectors:

Energy generation science and engineering

Energy storage science and engineering

Energy generation asset management

Distributed energy grid and market integration

Solar and wind resource forecasting and mapping
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Appendix C – EOI Template (for submission online only)
* will be published online as described
Applicant name*
Applicant address
ABN/ACN
Date of Application*
Contact Person*
Contact phone
Contact e-mail*
Project Title*
High-level Summary (300 characters maximum) *
Project Description (3000 characters maximum)
The Project Description should seek to address: the purpose and objectives of the funded activities; deliverables
and expected outcomes; expected timing of key milestones; benefits to the renewable energy ecosystem and
community within the ACT; potential to leverage other resources.
Opportunities to Recycle Funds (800 characters maximum)
The Territory is interested in exploring different funding models that support the longevity of the Renewable
Energy Innovation Fund (REIF). The applicant should describe any proposed strategies that may assist with this.
Total Amount Requested
$
Total Project Cost
$
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