Net Zero Planning Grant

Funding program archive

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

Publication date: 30 November 2026.

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 Net Zero Planning Grant is a NSW Government initiative designed to help eligible NSW businesses strengthen their net zero planning and identify practical actions to reduce emissions. Round 2 provides grants of up to $25,000, covering up to 50% of eligible costs, to support businesses with activities such as greenhouse gas emissions inventories, climate-related risk and opportunity assessments, emissions reduction targets and net zero action planning.

A total of $2 million is available under Round 2, with applications assessed as they are received. Applications close at 5 pm AEDT on 30 November 2026, or earlier if available funding is exhausted.

Who is this for?

The Net Zero Planning Grant is for businesses with operations and a site address in New South Wales that meet the program's energy expenditure requirements and want to progress their net zero planning.

The grant is not restricted to a single industry sector. It can support eligible NSW businesses across a range of industries. Previous recipients have included organisations operating in manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, hospitality and retail, while the Round 2 guidelines also provide examples for agriculture and manufacturing businesses.

How much funding is available?

Eligible businesses can receive up to $25,000, covering up to 50% of eligible costs.

Funding is delivered across two milestones:

A total funding pool of $2 million is available for Round 2.

What can the funding be used for?

The Net Zero Planning Grant supports specialist consulting work across nine areas of net zero planning:

For businesses looking to strengthen their emissions and net zero position, relevant funded activities may include developing a greenhouse gas emissions inventory covering Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, establishing net zero and emissions reduction targets, preparing a climate-related risk and opportunity assessment, and developing a long-, medium- and short-term net zero action plan.

These areas align with Northmore Gordon's energy and carbon advisory capabilities, particularly where businesses need specialist support to understand emissions, establish a credible emissions baseline and develop practical decarbonisation and net zero strategies.

The grant does not fund capital expenditure, equipment or technology assessments, carbon offsets, internal labour or project management costs, or auditing, verification and validation fees. It also excludes certain mandatory NGER reporting activities and existing ongoing activities such as existing voluntary reporting.

Eligibility: You can apply if you:

Businesses are not eligible if they or their related entities have received, or will receive, funding through the Net Zero Planning Grant in this or a previous round. Businesses are also ineligible if they receive other NSW Government funding for the same activities, are a Commonwealth, state or local government entity, are a Safeguard facility, or they or a related entity are a Group 1 reporting entity required to prepare a sustainability report under section 292A of the Corporations Act 2001.

Key dates

Applications opened: 1 September 2026

Applications close: 5 pm AEDT, 30 November 2026, or earlier if funding is exhausted.

Application outcomes are expected within 20 business days of submission, although the NSW Government reserves the right to extend this timeframe where necessary.

The Net Zero Planning Grant is non-competitive, with eligible applications assessed as they are received rather than waiting until the closing date. Businesses considering applying should therefore avoid waiting until the deadline, as the funding may be exhausted earlier.

How does the grant work?

Successful projects are delivered through two stages.

Milestone 1 focuses on assessing the organisation's current net zero progress across the nine elements of the Net Zero Business Guide and identifying priority actions for further work. These activities must be undertaken by an external specialist consultant and completed within six weeks from commencement of the funding deed.

Milestone 2 then supports detailed implementation of the actions identified during Milestone 1. The selected work must follow the Net Zero Business Guide and, where applicable, align with nationally or internationally recognised frameworks such as the Greenhouse Gas Protocol or Science Based Targets initiative. Milestone 2 must be completed within 18 weeks following notification of successful completion of Milestone 1.

How can Northmore Gordon help?

Northmore Gordon can help eligible NSW businesses assess the Net Zero Planning Grant opportunity and determine how relevant net zero and emissions activities could fit within their broader energy and decarbonisation strategy.

Depending on your organisation's requirements and the activities ultimately approved under the grant, this could include support with greenhouse gas emissions inventories, climate-related risk and opportunity assessments, emissions reduction targets and net zero action planning.

If your business meets the eligibility requirements and is considering the Net Zero Planning Grant, contact Northmore Gordon to discuss your project and the next steps for preparing an application.

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.

What is the Net Zero Planning Grant and who is eligible to apply?

The Net Zero Planning Grant is a NSW Government initiative providing up to $25,000 to help eligible businesses develop net zero plans and identify emissions reduction actions. Eligible applicants must have an Australian Business Number and GST registration, operate in NSW, and spend at least $200,000 annually on energy at a single site or $500,000 across multiple NSW sites (including purchased fuels). Applicants cannot have previously received this grant, cannot be Safeguard facilities, and cannot be Group 1 reporting entities under the Corporations Act. Energy bill evidence no more than two years old must support the application.

How is the Net Zero Planning Grant structured across two milestones?

Milestone 1 provides up to $2,000 covering 50% of specialist consultant costs for initial net zero planning and priority-action identification, completed within six weeks from funding commencement. Milestone 2 provides up to $23,000 covering 50% of costs for detailed work addressing identified gaps in NSW operations, completed within 18 weeks following successful Milestone 1 notification. This two-stage structure allows businesses to assess opportunities in the first phase, then commit to deeper work based on those findings, making planning more efficient and reducing upfront risk.

What specific activities and outputs can be funded under the Net Zero Planning Grant?

The grant funds specialist consulting across nine areas: strategy development (including climate-risk and opportunity assessment), governance, people and capability, data, targets, net zero action planning, finance, stakeholder engagement, and reporting. Funded activities may include developing a Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions inventory, establishing net zero and emissions reduction targets, preparing a climate-related risk and opportunity assessment, and developing long-, medium- and short-term net zero action plans. Capital expenditure, equipment assessments, carbon offsets, internal labour, and mandatory NGER reporting activities are excluded.

When can businesses apply for the Net Zero Planning Grant and how is assessment conducted?

Applications opened 1 September 2026 and close at 5 pm AEDT on 30 November 2026, or earlier if funding is exhausted. Notably, this is a non-competitive grant where eligible applications are assessed as received rather than waiting until the closing date. This means eligible businesses submitting early may have higher certainty of accessing funding before the pool depletes. The rolling assessment approach rewards prompt action and removes the uncertainty associated with competitive selection processes.

How does the Net Zero Planning Grant relate to broader energy and emissions management strategies?

The grant funds specialist work that establishes a baseline emissions inventory and identifies priority reduction pathways, forming the foundation for investment decisions and ongoing management. For businesses pursuing energy optimisation, environmental certificates, or NSW Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Plan (CCMAP) compliance, the grant-funded planning outputs provide credible evidence of current emissions, feasibility of actions, and financial implications. This makes the grant valuable for businesses that will subsequently pursue scheme funding, capital investments, or regulatory compliance that depend on documented planning and baseline data.

What is excluded from the Net Zero Planning Grant and why do those exclusions matter?

The grant excludes capital expenditure, equipment or technology assessments, carbon offsets, internal labour costs, and verification fees. It also excludes mandatory NGER reporting and existing voluntary reporting activities. These exclusions focus grant funding on planning and advisory work rather than implementation or asset purchases. Businesses must understand this boundary: the grant develops the plan and identifies opportunities, but separate investment, procurement or scheme funding is needed for actual equipment upgrades, carbon offsets, or mandatory reporting. This distinction helps businesses budget realistically and identify what other funding or internal capital will be required.

How can Northmore Gordon assist businesses with Net Zero Planning Grant applications and delivery?

We can help eligible NSW businesses assess grant opportunity, determine how net zero and emissions activities align with their broader energy and decarbonisation strategy, and deliver funded activities including greenhouse gas emissions inventories, climate-related risk and opportunity assessments, emissions reduction targets, and net zero action planning. As a specialist consultant experienced in energy audits, carbon advisory, and transition planning, we can structure grant-funded work to establish baseline evidence and identify practical reduction pathways. Grant Raja, Senior Business Development Manager, is available to discuss how the grant could support a business's net zero and energy objectives.

Which types of businesses have previously benefited from the Net Zero Planning Grant?

The grant is available across all industry sectors without restriction. Previous recipients have included organisations in manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, hospitality and retail. The Round 2 guidelines provide examples for agriculture and manufacturing businesses specifically, indicating strong relevance across primary industries and industrial facilities. This sector diversity shows the grant's broad applicability: energy-intensive manufacturers, agricultural businesses managing fuel costs, and service sectors all have eligible energy expenditure and benefit from structured net zero planning to identify emissions and cost reduction opportunities.

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