NSW Low Emissions Industry Program

Funding program archive

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

Publication date: 9 March 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

Funding to support large industrial facilities in NSW to reduce emissions and transition to low-carbon operations.

The NSW Low Emissions Industry Program provides significant funding to help large manufacturing and mining facilities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and transition to cleaner, more efficient operations. Delivered by the NSW Government as part of the broader Net Zero Industry and Innovation Program, the initiative supports projects that accelerate industrial decarbonisation while maintaining strong economic performance across key sectors.

Funding can support projects from early feasibility and engineering studies through to the deployment and commissioning of proven low-emissions technologies. The program is designed to help NSW's highest-emitting industrial facilities future-proof their operations while contributing to the state's goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Key Grant Details

Key Grant Details

Who is this for?

The program specifically targets large industrial facilities with significant emissions footprints, supporting projects that reduce carbon intensity while strengthening long-term competitiveness.

Eligibility

You can apply if you:

Please note that:

What can the grant be used for?

Funding supports projects that help industrial facilities significantly reduce emissions and adopt low-carbon technologies. Eligible projects may include:

These types of projects often require detailed technical and financial planning, which may include:

Timeline

Expression of Interest (EOI), which closes on 24 April 2026. Successful EOI applicants will then be invited to submit a full application. Projects must be operational and injecting gas by 30 June 2030

Apply with Northmore Gordon

The NSW Low Emissions Industry Program represents a major funding opportunity for large industrial facilities looking to invest in decarbonisation, energy efficiency, and low-emissions technology.

Northmore Gordon works with businesses across Australia to identify suitable grant opportunities, develop strong applications, and manage the funding process from concept through to submission.

Northmore Gordon can support businesses with the development of grant applications, feasibility studies, project planning, and investment-ready documentation required to secure funding and deliver complex decarbonisation projects.

Speak with Northmore Gordon today to start your 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 NSW Low Emissions Industry Program and who should consider applying?

The NSW Low Emissions Industry Program provides grants covering up to 50% of eligible project costs from a $305 million funding pool to help large manufacturing and mining facilities in New South Wales reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Eligible applicants must operate an NSW facility, be an Australian entity, report more than 25,000 tonnes CO2-e annually under NGER, fall below the 100,000-tonne Safeguard threshold, and secure matching co-funding. The program targets measurable emissions reductions of at least 1,000 tCO2-e per year through feasibility studies, pilot projects, technology deployment, process improvements, or large-scale implementation. We assist businesses with grant identification, application development, feasibility studies, and investment-ready documentation to strengthen submissions and guide projects through delivery.

How does the application timeline work, and what are the key deadlines?

The program operates on a rolling basis with two critical dates: an Expression of Interest (EOI) closes on 24 April 2026, and full applications close on 9 June 2026 at 11:00pm AEST. Successful EOI applicants are invited to submit detailed applications. The program is administered by the NSW Office of Energy and Climate Change and funding is subject to availability. Projects must be operational by 30 June 2030. We can help businesses prepare EOI submissions early, develop robust feasibility evidence, and manage the transition from EOI to full application within the compressed timeline, ensuring all technical and commercial requirements are met.

Can a project receive NSW Low Emissions Industry Program funding and also generate certificate revenue?

Projects generating Energy Saving Certificates (ESCs) or Peak Reduction Certificates (PRCs) face restricted funding options. The Department may require applicants to choose between LEIP grant funding or certificate revenue, or may recover certificate proceeds as a condition of the funding deed. Projects receiving LEIP funding cannot claim funding under the Safeguard Accelerator Program for the same certificates. Applicants must disclose any expected certificate revenue or cost savings upfront. This requires careful commercial modelling: We help businesses separate base-case economics from unconfirmed incentives, model funding scenarios independently, and present transparent disclosure of all revenue streams to regulators and investors.

What does 'eligible project costs' mean, and how should co-funding be structured?

Eligible project costs typically include feasibility and engineering studies, pilot projects, technology deployment, equipment upgrades, and large-scale implementation of proven decarbonisation solutions. The program covers up to 50% of these costs; applicants must secure matching co-funding of at least 50%. Co-funding can come from internal capital, debt financing, or other external sources but must be confirmed and committed. The investment case must clearly itemise costs, distinguish incremental decarbonisation expenditure from routine replacement, and disclose all assumptions. We build investment cases that align with the program's cost requirements, separate eligible from ineligible items, and present co-funding arrangements transparently to support application credibility.

Why is the 1,000 tCO2-e annual reduction threshold significant, and how is it calculated?

The minimum 1,000 tCO2-e per year reduction threshold establishes material impact and aligns with industrial-scale decarbonisation. Reductions are measured in Scope 1 (direct) and/or Scope 2 (purchased electricity) emissions and must be quantified through credible baselines and measurement approaches. The threshold filters for projects with substantial operational and emissions-reduction significance, not marginal improvements. Calculating this requires understanding pre-project energy consumption, proposed technology performance, operating profiles, and measurement boundaries. We conduct feasibility studies, energy audits, and measurement-and-verification planning to establish credible baseline data and project realistic emission reductions, demonstrating threshold achievement through documented evidence suitable for regulator review.

How should applicants handle the Safeguard Mechanism threshold when determining eligibility?

The program targets facilities reporting 25,000 to less than 100,000 tCO2-e annually under NGER. Facilities above the 100,000-tonne Safeguard threshold are not eligible because they face different regulatory obligations and reporting requirements. This distinction is critical: an applicant must confirm current NGER reporting status for the 2024-25 financial year and verify that projected emissions remain below the Safeguard cap. Ambiguity around facility coverage or future emissions trajectories can delay applications or trigger rejection. We assist businesses with emissions-inventory work, facility-boundary definition, and NGER compliance assessment to confirm eligibility before application submission and prevent late-stage disqualification.

What evidence and documentation should a strong application include?

A competitive application requires baseline energy and emissions data, credible feasibility studies or engineering assessments, detailed project timelines and implementation plans, clear cost breakdowns with co-funding commitments, realistic emission-reduction calculations, and measurement-and-verification approaches. Evidence should distinguish measured data from estimates and document assumptions transparently. The application must also address operational constraints, technical risks, and how the project maintains production requirements during implementation. Commercial documentation should include investment returns, assumptions about energy prices and operating hours, and how results will be monitored post-implementation. We prepare audit reports, build investment cases with scenario analysis, develop M&V plans, and structures supporting documentation to present technically sound, commercially credible applications that meet departmental assessment expectations.

How does Northmore Gordon support clients through the full funding cycle, from concept to operational delivery?

We apply our six-stage delivery approach across the funding pathway: Assess (site audits and emissions baseline), Build the Case (feasibility studies and investment cases), Capture Value (grant identification and application), Deliver (project management and M&V), Procure (equipment and contractor management), and Perform (operational monitoring and reporting). For LEIP specifically, we help identify opportunities and set realistic reduction targets, develops application-ready documentation, manages the EOI and full-application timeline, secures measurement evidence, and tracks performance post-implementation to demonstrate funding accountability. This integrated support reduces application risk, accelerates approval decisions, and ensures projects deliver contracted emissions reductions and operational outcomes, protecting the client's investment and regulatory reputation.

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