Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) funding
ARENA funding programs
Status not published
ARENA runs specific competitive funding rounds (for example hydrogen, electrolyser, industrial decarbonisation and community battery rounds) each with its own opening and closing dates, alongside an advancing renewables pathway for unsolicited applications.
ARENA provides grant funding for renewable energy and decarbonisation technology projects from early-stage R&D through to large demonstration. Amounts range from a few hundred thousand dollars for feasibility studies to tens or hundreds of millions for demonstration plants. Co-funding of at least 50% is typically expected and ARENA funding is generally milestone-based.
You must co-fund 50%.
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)
public · national
Deadline: cutoff — ARENA runs specific competitive funding rounds (for example hydrogen, electrolyser, industrial decarbonisation and community battery rounds) each with its own opening and closing dates, alongside an advancing renewables pathway for unsolicited applications.
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.
You fund 50% yourself.
Who can apply
- Sectors: energy, climate, deeptech
- Stage: pre_seed, seed, series_a, growth
- R&D activity required
- Locally registered entity required
Entities with an ABN, generally incorporated in Australia. Projects must be delivered in Australia and relate to renewable energy or enabling decarbonisation technologies. Knowledge sharing with the sector is a condition of funding.
How to apply
- Review currently open ARENA funding rounds and the advancing renewables pathway.
- Discuss the project concept with ARENA staff before applying.
- Submit an expression of interest or full application via the ARENA portal.
- Assessment against merit criteria including technology readiness, knowledge-sharing value and co-funding.
- Board approval and execution of a funding agreement with milestone payments and knowledge-sharing obligations.
What you will need
- Project proposal and technical description
- Detailed budget and co-funding evidence
- Financial statements and corporate structure
- Risk assessment and project plan
- Knowledge-sharing plan
- Environmental and planning approvals for deployment projects (if applicable)
Source. https://arena.gov.au/funding/ — checked 2026-08-14 · not human-checked
"ARENA provides funding to accelerate the development of renewable energy and related technologies in Australia."