Victoria

Name of program: Building Upgrade Finance

What’s it for? 

• to assist building owners with environmental upgrades to non-residential buildings.

Who’s it for?

• building owners
• Councils

Who’s funding it? Building Better Finance (supported by ARENA)

What can be funded?

Typically projects funded fall into three categories:

1. 1. Generation of renewable energy and emissions reduction (eg: solar PV, end of trip facilities etc.)
   2. Improvement of energy and / or water efficiency (eg: efficient plant and equipment – lighting, air conditioning, boilers and lifts; rainwater tanks, water efficient fixtures and fittings etc.)
   3. Minimisation of waste (eg: waste infrastructure systems)

Conditions?

• Upgrade Finance is enabled by council, who places an Upgrade Charge against the property, with loan repayments being collected in a similar way to council rates. The security provided by the Upgrade Charge allows lenders to offer attractive terms, which helps businesses increase their competitiveness by reducing operational costs through improved building performance.

To be eligible the building must be an existing, non-residential building, located in a participating council area.

• Eligible works under Building Upgrade Finance are those that improve the energy, water or environmental efficiency or sustainability of a building. Heritage upgrades may also be eligible.

When does funding close? OPEN

Learn more: Here

Contact for information: [email protected]

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: Discounts and rebates

Who is it for: 

• First Nations

What’s it for?

• to help reduce your up-front costs for energy-efficient products and help you go electric

Who's funding it? Victoria government, Victorian Energy Upgrades and Solar Homes programs

When does funding close? OPEN

Learn more: here

Name of program: Hot water rebate

What's it for? to install an efficient heat pump or solar hot water system.

Who is it for: 

• householders

Who's funding it? Victoria Government

What do you get?

• rebates of up to $1,400 are available for eligible heat pump and solar hot water products

When does funding close? OPEN

More information Click here

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: On-Farm Energy and Electrification Demonstration Program

What’s it for? 

• to support industry-led projects that demonstrate proven and new-to-market energy technologies in real farming environments across Victoria
• to generate and share practical evidence on the costs, benefits and return on investment of on-farm energy technologies, helping Victorian farmers make informed decisions and adopt technologies with confidence

Who’s it for?

• Traditional Owner groups, First Nations organisations and Aboriginal businesses involved in primary production activities

Who’s funding it? Agriculture Victoria

What can be funded?

Up to $5 million in grant funding is available, with grants of $200,000 to $750,000 are available for successful applicants to showcase energy technologies that can:

• improve on-farm energy efficiency
• reduce fuel, gas or energy consumption
• generate renewable energy
• provide energy storage on farm.

Conditions?

Eligible projects must:

• demonstrate proven technology not yet widely adopted and/or new-to-market technologies that deliver improvements in energy efficiency and emissions reduction
• demonstrate practical solutions that can be scaled and adopted by other farms, industries and regions
• generate and share real-world insights to support future investment and adoption
• build industry confidence and support wider adoption by sharing project outcomes, lessons learned and practical experience with farmers and industry.

When does funding close? Closing Friday 11 December 2026

Learn more: Here

Contact for information: [email protected]

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: Retrofit Insulation Installation Training program

Who is it for: 

• Registered Training Organisations (RTO)

What’s it for?

• Eligible workers can access fully funded training and certification to support the safe introduction of retrofit ceiling insulation in homes 

Who's funding it? Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program

Conditions: 

• This grant will fund eligible Registered Training Organisations to deliver the training units required for an insulation installer to become a certified installer under the EEC certification program.

• Following completion of the training units, installers are encouraged to become a Certified Insulation Installer (CII) through the EEC. This certification is required to undertake work under the VEU Insultation program.

• The certification fee is fully subsidised by Solar Victoria for a limited time. Certification is run by the EEC.

• Students should contact the following RTOs directly to find out if they meet the eligibility requirements, and to receive more information on how each RTO delivers the training.

  Wall & Ceiling Institute
  25/134 Springvale Road, Springvale VIC 3171
  Andrew Val: 0451 800 196
  [email protected]

  Built Training & Education
  2/35 Lock Ave, Werribee, VIC 3030
  Ph: 9741 1858
  [email protected]

  Holmesglen TAFE
  Chadstone Campus, Cnr Batesford and Warrigal Rd, Chadstone, VIC 3148
  Debra De Amicis: 9564 2763
  [email protected]

When does funding close? OPEN

Learn more: Here

Name of program: Solar Panel Rebate or interest-free loan

Who is it for: 

• rental providers
• homeowners 

Who's funding it? Victoria Government

Conditions: 

• Rebate of up to $1,400 to eligible rental providers for the installation of solar panel (PV) systems on a maximum of two rental properties each financial year. This helps renters save on their energy bills.
• Rebate of up to $1,400 for the installation of solar panel (PV) systems for homeowners with existing homes or homes under construction.
• If eligible, you may be offered an interest-free loan towards your solar installation. The maximum loan amounts available are:
  • solar panel (PV) — $1,400
  • solar for rentals — $1,400
  • solar battery loans — $8,800
  You must repay the loan over 4 years, or sooner in a single lump sum if you like.

When does funding close? OPEN

More information Click here

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: Supporting Solstice Energy customers

Who is it for: 

• Solstice energy gas customers

What’s it for?

• to support Solstice Energy customers to upgrade to electric appliances with Victorian government rebates and discounts that can help
• Solstice Energy can fully fund the conversion or replacement of like-for-like appliances to run on bottled gas (LPG) at no cost to you

Who's funding it? Victoria government, DEECA

When does funding close? OPEN

Learn more: Here

Contact: First Peoples Solstice Energy customers can contact DEECA’s First Peoples’ Energy team: [email protected] or Phone: 1800 413 137 

Name of program: Utility relief grant scheme (non-mains)

Who’s it for?

• renters and homeowners on very low incomes

What’s it for?

• The grant provides help to pay a non-mains energy or water bill that is overdue due to a temporary financial crisis.

Who’s funding it? Victoria Government

Conditions: 

• The grant is paid to the supplier and the supplier will credit the grant against your outstanding debt or next purchase (maximum of $650 on each utility type in a two-year period)

• You can apply if you do not currently owe on a bill but know that you will not be able to afford your next bill.

• Applications take approximately four to six weeks to process

• You must show that you have no way of paying the account without assistance, AND you must meet one of the following criteria:

  • The cost of shelter is more than 30% of your household income.

  • You or someone in your house has experienced family violence.

  • You have had a recent decrease in income, for example, lost your job.

  • You have had high unexpected costs for essential items.

When does funding close? OPEN

More information: Click here

How do I apply? Phone the Concessions Information Line on 1800 658 521

Name of program: Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program for homes

Who is it for: 

• business or residential customers

Who's funding it? Essential Services Commission

Conditions: 

• Search for an accredited provider who may help you access discounts for energy-efficient products under the Victorian Energy Upgrades program here 
• upgrades may be open to business and/or residential customers

When does funding close? OPEN

More information: Here

How do I apply? Click here

Thanks to Stefan K for the photo!