Australia Compressed Air (NSW) - Available until 3 July 2020

Funding program archive

This page preserves a dated funding-program record and links it to current project-planning guidance.

Publication date: 3 July 2020.

Status note: This archive does not confirm that applications are open, funds remain available or the earlier eligibility and co-funding settings still apply. Verify the current administrator page and guidelines.

What this article reported

The NSW Government will fund a check-up on your compressed air and steam systems, which are often inefficient and could be costing you a lot to run.

NG can survey your compressed air or steam system and identify cost saving opportunities.


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Contact an expert

What is included
Qualifying costs

We will fund approved suppliers up to $11,000 to do the job for you.

This offer runs until 3 July 2020 or until funding is exhausted.

Eligibility

To be eligible you must:

How to apply

Ask Northmore Gordon about current energy-efficiency funding


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The NSW Government will fund up to $5000 to install new metering on your equipment to help cut your energy bills.

NG can help you specify and install these meters.


Contact us


Contact an expert

What is included
Qualifying costs

We fund the cost of buying, installing and commissioning new metering on your compressed air system.

We will pay 30% of the final bill, up to a maximum of $5000 per site.

For example, Eddy is quoted $12,000 to install new metering. He applies for the NSW government offer and gets $3600 - 30% of his total project costs.

Eligibility

To be eligible you must:

The archived program accepted applications until 3 July 2020 or until its funds were exhausted.

How to apply

Ask Northmore Gordon about current energy-efficiency funding


Contact us

Funding for compressed air surveys and metering in NSW

The NSW Government will fund a check-up on your compressed air and steam systems. They are often inefficient and could be costing you a lot to run.

Compressed air and steam surveys

Compressed air metering

Finding a suitable grant opportunity is just the start of the process of getting funding. Let us help you! The application for each grant is different and the process can take time and effort. Contact us to walk you through everything from, processes, eligibility criteria and the grants, funding and financial assistance available at the moment.

How to use this information now

Before relying on a grant, confirm the current round, applicant and project eligibility, eligible expenditure, co-contribution, assessment process, closing date and evidence obligations. Build the technical case so the project remains understandable with grant support shown separately.

Separate source-reported facts from forecasts, targets and commentary. For a current project, retain the official source, version, effective date, assumptions and decision record in the evidence file.

Why is compressed air often identified as a priority energy investigation area in manufacturing?

Compressed air systems are frequently inefficient and represent a significant operating cost for manufacturers. The Australian Government's manufacturing guidance identifies compressed air as a key energy investigation area because these systems often have unnecessary demand, leaks, idling, and suboptimal pressure settings or compressor sequencing. Before purchasing additional compressor capacity, it's essential to assess the existing system's performance and operating patterns. We can conduct surveys to identify cost-saving opportunities specific to your compressed air system's actual requirements and performance.

What specific investigations should be scoped before deciding to buy additional compressed air capacity?

Begin by defining the required service: which tasks need compressed air, at what pressure and quality, and during which operating periods. Government guidance recommends investigating unnecessary uses, leaks, idling, pressure settings, and compressor sequencing as separate issues. Collect energy and operating information to understand the system under different conditions. Document compressor capacities and controls, production shifts, required pressure at critical users, and available energy and pressure data. These investigation areas are diagnostic starting points; confirm the actual cause before selecting a remedy or estimating savings. We can help build a useful operating picture and develop a commissioning brief for your assessment.

How does compressed air metering help reduce energy bills, and what does NSW Government funding support?

Metering systems provide data to answer specific operational questions: which equipment accounts for unexplained loads, whether the system responds correctly across its operating range, and whether improvements actually deliver expected performance. The NSW Government funds up to $5,000 (30% of costs, maximum) to install new metering on compressed air equipment where the system has operational capacity of 100kW or greater. This metering data becomes essential evidence for identifying savings opportunities, baseline establishment for funding schemes, and post-project performance verification. We can help specify, install, and interpret metering systems to support energy management decisions.

What is the difference between a compressed air survey and metering, and when would each be appropriate?

A compressed air survey identifies and assesses improvement opportunities through investigation of operating scenarios, measured evidence, and proposed changes—including leak surveys, thermal imaging, and performance analysis. Metering provides ongoing data collection to understand system performance under different conditions and verify results after implementation. A survey typically comes first to identify what needs to change; metering follows to establish baselines and monitor performance. Both can be funded separately under NSW Government programs. We can help determine which investigation suits your decision: whether you're screening for opportunities, planning specific improvements, or verifying outcomes.

What operating scenarios and evidence should be documented when comparing compressed air efficiency options?

For each option under consideration, document the production shifts, required pressure at critical users, compressor capacities and controls, and available energy and pressure data across different operating conditions. When comparing options such as leak repair versus compressor replacement, avoid double-counting by assessing the replacement against the demand expected after leaks are repaired. Record the sequence and the boundary used for each estimate separately. Distinguish quoted costs from estimated costs, and include a plan to confirm performance after implementation, particularly where production changes could affect results. This structured approach prevents overstatement of combined savings and supports both technical decisions and funding scheme compliance.

How should compressed air savings be documented for certificate schemes or funding applications?

For certificate support under schemes like NSW Energy Savings Scheme, assess the specific site and scheme method separately from the technical opportunity. Request a description of the operating scenarios, measured evidence, proposed changes, and assumptions used in the financial comparison. Include a plan to confirm performance after implementation. An energy-saving opportunity does not automatically establish the evidence standard, timing, or eligible quantity for a certificate claim. Keep the engineering savings separate from scheme-recognised savings and created certificates. We can help establish the measurement boundary, baseline, and verification requirements needed for both energy reduction and funding eligibility.

What are the eligibility requirements for NSW Government compressed air funding, and how should businesses verify their qualification?

Eligibility typically requires an Australian Business Number (ABN) and GST registration, on-site manufacturing or cotton ginning activities in NSW, and compressed air systems with operational capacity of at least 30kW for surveys or 100kW for metering funding. Businesses unsure whether their activity qualifies as manufacturing should contact the NSW Government program administrator for clarification before applying. Verify current eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and eligible expenditure definitions directly through the program guidelines, as funding rounds and conditions can change. We can help assess whether your facility and proposed project align with current funding requirements and support documentation preparation.

How does Northmore Gordon support compressed air projects from assessment through to funding and implementation?

Our service approach spans energy audits and utility benchmarking to identify opportunities, metering and monitoring to establish baselines and verify performance, feasibility assessment to evaluate improvement viability, and measurement and verification to demonstrate actual savings. We can help specify and install metering equipment, develop investment cases that compare alternatives on consistent bases, and identify relevant funding pathways including NSW Government programs and energy certificates. This integrated scope means energy assessment, commercial decisions, and ongoing operational performance are coordinated, reducing the risk that technical opportunities are lost due to timing, evidence, or funding misalignment.

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