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Overview

  • Closed

Round 3 – Applications for Round 3 closed at 1pm, 12 December 2025.

Round 1 and 2 – Closed

The Energy Innovation Fund supports the commercialisation of innovative, emerging renewable energy technologies in Victoria, required to meet the net-zero emissions by 2045 target.

The fund is being delivered in multiple rounds.

  • Round 3 is dedicated to industrial electrification, with a focus on the food and beverage processing and manufacturing sector.
  • Round 2 was open to any renewable technology type that can support Victoria’s net-zero emissions by 2045 target.
  • Round 1 was dedicated to offshore wind.

Round 3

Industrial electrification with a focus on food and beverage processing and manufacturing sector.

Round 3 targets the electrification of Victoria’s food and beverage processing and manufacturing sector, which is one of the State’s most energy-intensive industries. The round seeks to overcome barriers to electrification by co-funding innovative projects that replace fossil fuel usage with electric alternatives.

Objectives

  • Support the achievement of Victoria’s net-zero carbon emission target by 2045 through the electrification of industrial processes, enabling the integration of renewable energy to decarbonise the food and beverage sector.
  • Enable the development, demonstration, and scaling of emerging technologies that are transformational, high-impact, and aligned with Victoria’s energy and climate policy priorities.
  • Improve energy efficiency and reduce reliance on volatile fossil gas markets to support cost stability and operational certainty for food producers.
  • Strengthen local food production and processing capacity by enabling sustainable, low-emissions growth that supports long-term sector viability. Boost Victorian industrial competitiveness as Victoria achieves legislated emission reduction targets.

Funding

  • Under round 3, a total funding pool of $10 million is available. With grants capped at up to $2 million per submission (exceptions considered where exceptional value can be demonstrated).

Indicative timing

  • Applications opened: 29 September 2025
  • Applications closed: 12 December 2025
  • Assessment process: December 2025 – June 2026
  • Successful projects announced: July – September 2026

Application guidelines (for reference only)

Contact us

If you have any questions, please contact the EIF team at: energy.innovation@deeca.vic.gov.au

Round 2

Technology neutral.

Round 2 was open to any renewable technology type that could support Victoria's net-zero emissions by 2045 target and met the eligibility criteria.

For reference: The Application guidelines for Round 2 can be found below.

Funded projects

Five projects secured funding under Round 2.

A total of $49.4 million was provided to support:

  • two bio-energy projects
  • a large-scale battery
  • a renewable hydrogen project.
  • an offshore wind project (feasibility and pre-construction activities).

FRV Services

Installation of a 100MW/2-hour lithium-ion battery energy storage system using new grid forming inverters.

  • Location: Terang, Barwon South West
  • Funding awarded: $7 million

Innovating Energy

Installation of a 2.2MW bioenergy facility at an existing dairy processing plant.

  • Location: Gippsland
  • Funding awarded: $10 million

Pavillion Farms

Installation of an anaerobic digestion plant which using chicken litter and other organic matter as feedstock to convert to Biogas.

  • Location: Anakie, Barwon Southwest
  • Funding awarded: $9.3 million

Yarra Valley Water

Installation of an electrolyser to split water into hydrogen and oxygen at its wastewater treatment plant. This pilot project will test the technology prior to building the full-scale electrolyser.

The site’s existing waste-to-energy facility will power the electrolyser producing renewable hydrogen from surplus recycled water and oxygen which will potentially be used to treat wastewater.

  • Location: Wollert, Melbourne
  • Funding awarded: $11.9 million

Alinta Energy

Feasibility and pre-construction activities for the Spinifex Offshore Wind Farm. Alinta Energy and JERA Nex - Parkwind are developing a proposed 1.2GW offshore wind farm off the coast of Southwest Victoria.

  • Location: Portland, Barwon Southwest
  • Funding awarded: $11.16 million

Round 1

Offshore wind

Due to technological advances and declining costs, offshore wind has experienced significant global growth over the last decade. The sector now has an important role in the global energy transition and pathway towards net zero emissions.

Round 1 opened for applications in February 2021 and received a strong response.

For reference: The Application Guidelines for round 1 can be found below.

Funded projects

A total of $37.9 million was provided to support the completion of feasibility and pre-construction activities.

Flotation Energy

Completed scoping studies and surveys for a 1500 MW offshore wind farm off the Gippsland Coast. This included working with oil and gas facility operators to assess the potential for onshore and offshore asset re-use.

The scoping works supported the development of a project. If constructed, could result in an investment of approximately $6 billion and the creation of over 1,600 jobs.

  • Location: Gippsland
  • Funding awarded: $2.3 million

Macquarie Group

Pre-feasibility works investigated the potential for a 1500 MW offshore wind farm off the Bass Coast. If constructed the project could result in a total investment of approximately $4.0 billion and the creation of over 1,500 jobs.

  • Location: Bass Coast
  • Funding awarded: $16.1 million

Star of the South Offshore Wind Project

Pre-construction development activities for the 2200 MW project, located off the coast of Gippsland. If constructed, the project could result in an investment of approximately $8.7 billion and the creation of over 2,000 jobs.

  • Location: Gippsland
  • Funding awarded: $19.5 million

Page last updated: 12/12/25