Clean Energy Future

There are a number of related programs administered by various government departments under the Clean Energy legislation that are contributing to the implementation of the Clean Energy Future package. The function of the programs include bringing the carbon pricing mechanism into effect, distributing household assistance, rolling out clean energy and providing energy efficiency initiatives. All programs and initiatives are listed here in alphabetical order:

ACCC activities

The ACCC is working with businesses and consumers to raise awareness of how the Australian Consumer Law applies to carbon price claims.

Australian National Registry of Emissions Units

The Australian National Registry of Emissions Units (ANREU) is a secure electronic system designed to accurately track the location and ownership of emission units issued under the Kyoto Protocol and Australian Carbon Credit Units.

Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)

Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), a new independent agency, is incorporating measures currently managed by the Australian Solar Institute, the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy, and the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. Under ARENA, funding is being invested in renewable energy and enabling technology projects between now and 2020.

Biodiversity Fund

The Biodiversity Fund is assisting land managers to store carbon, enhance biodiversity and build greater environmental resilience across the Australian landscape. For further information about the Biodiversity Fund go to the fact sheet on this website.

Carbon Farming Futures

The Carbon Farming Futures Program ensures that advances in emissions reduction technologies and techniques continue the evolution of management practices in the land sector towards emissions reduction and improved productivity.

Carbon Farming Initiative (Non-Kyoto Fund)

The Carbon Farming Initiative allows farmers and land managers to earn carbon credits by storing carbon or reducing greenhouse gas emissions on the land.

Carbon Farming Skills

The Carbon Farming Skills initiative ensures that landholders have access to credible, high quality advice and carbon services.

Carbon Price Implementation Program (incl Clean Energy Regulator)

The Clean Energy Regulator (the Regulator) administers the carbon pricing mechanism, National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme, the Renewable Energy Target and the Carbon Farming Initiative.

Carbon Price Legislation

The Clean Energy Legislative Package is now law. It sets out the way that Australia has introduced a carbon price to reduce Australia’s carbon pollution and move to a clean energy future.

Charities Maritime and Aviation Support Program

The Charities Maritime and Aviation Support Program offers a rebate for the carbon price impact on essential maritime and aviation fuels used by organisations such as air and sea rescue services.

Clean Energy Finance Corporation

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation invests in businesses seeking funds to get innovating clean energy proposals and technologies off the ground.

Clean Energy Skills and other packages

Clean Energy Skills and other packages enables tradespeople and professionals in key industries to develop the skills needed to deliver clean energy services, products and advice to Australian communities and businesses.

Clean Technology Focus: Supply Chain

The Clean Technology Focus for Supply Chains enhances the clean technology aspects of existing business development and facilitation programs.

Clean Technology Innovation Program

The Government has allocated $200 million over five years to the Clean Technology Innovation Program which supports the research, development and commercialisation of clean technology products, processes and services.

Clean Technology Investment Program

The Clean Technology Investment Program provides assistance to help manufacturers make the transition to a low carbon economy and assist businesses to move into less emissions-intensive and more energy-efficient production processes.

Clean Technology Food and Foundaries Investment Program

The Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program assists food and beverage processing and metal foundries to embrace less emissions-intensive and more energy-efficient production processes.

Climate Change Authority

The Climate Change Authority advises the Government on the setting of carbon pollution caps and conduct periodic reviews of the carbon pricing mechanism and other climate change laws.

Coal Mining Abatement Technology Support Package

The Coal Mining Abatement Technology Support Package (CMATSP) provides $70 million over 5 years to support the development and pilot deployment of innovation technologies to reduce fugitive emissions from coal mines, develop safe abatement practices, and assist smaller operators to develop mine emissions abatement plans

Coal Sector Jobs Package

The Coal Sector Jobs Package (CSJP) provides up to $1.257 billion over six years (five years of funding) for targeted transitional assistance to the most fugitive emissions-intensive mines to ease their transition to the introduction of a carbon price. Payments are up to a maximum of 80 per cent of the extent to which fugitive emission intensity is above the 0.1 tonne of CO₂-e per tonne of saleable coal production threshold in 2008-09.

Community Energy Efficiency Program

The Community Energy Efficiency Program supports energy efficiency upgrades to council and community-use buildings, facilities and lighting.

Coverage of LPG/LNG/CNG

LNG projects receive a supplementary allocation under the Jobs and Competitiveness Program, ensuring an effective assistance rate of 50 per cent in relation to their LNG production each year. This supplementary allocation is in addition to the provision of assistance that would be provided to LNG projects if assessed as eligible under the Jobs and Competitiveness Program.

Energy Efficiency Information Grants

The Energy Efficiency Information Grants program assists industry associations and non profits provide practical, tailored energy efficiency information to small and medium enterprises and community organisations.

Energy Efficiency Opportunities

The Energy Efficiency Opportunities program and legislation requires large energy using businesses to undertake rigorous and comprehensive assessments of their energy use to a regulated standard to identify cost effective energy savings opportunities and report publicly on the results of the assessment and the business response. Currently 300 corporations from the generation, mining, manufacturing, transport and services sectors are covered, around 60% of Australia’s energy use.

Energy Savings Initiative

The Energy Savings Initiative supports economy-wide improvements in energy efficiency by placing obligations on energy retailers to find and implement energy savings in households and businesses, and help consumers to save money by encouraging the identification and take-up of energy efficient technologies.

Energy Security Council

The Energy Security Council advises the Government on possible support measures to address energy security risks

Energy Security Fund – Admin Allocations Cash/Carbon Units

The Energy Security Fund includes $5.5 billion in transitional assistance, in the form of allocations of free carbon units and cash payments, to highly emissions-intensive coal-fired generators.

Energy Security Fund – Contract for Closure

The Energy Security Funs – Contract for Closure supports the closure of around 2,000 megawatts of highly emissions intensive generation capacity before 2020, open to generators with an emissions-intensity above 1.2 tCO2-e/MWh on an ‘as generated’ basis.

Essential Medical Equipment Payment

The Essential Medical Equipment Payment covers Australians who use essential medical equipment, such as those using a dialysis machine or other life-support equipment at home. For further information about the Essential Medical Equipment Payment go to the fact sheet on this website.

Home Energy Saver Scheme

The Home Energy Saver Scheme assists low income households find more sustainable ways to manage their energy consumption.

Household Assistance Package

The Household Assistance Package helps low and middle income households take action on climate change without unduly bearing any costs.

Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund

The Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to participate in the Carbon Farming Initiative.

Jobs and Competitiveness Program

The Jobs and Competitiveness Program supports local jobs and production, and encourage industry to invest in cleaner technologies.

Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board

The Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board advises the Government on the implementation of the Land Sector Package, performance indicators of the package and the priorities for research under the package.

Light Vehicle CO₂ Emissions Standards

Placing mandatory CO2 standards on all light vehicles from 2015 will deliver savings for motorists by improving fuel efficiency in all categories of new light vehicles, and adopting a mandatory approach that is consistent with the approach of other major car manufacturing countries.

Living Greener

LivingGreener provides Information on living sustainably and links all Commonwealth, state and territory energy efficiency and climate change programs.

Low Income Energy Efficiency Program

The Low Income Energy Efficiency Program supports a consortia of community organisations, local councils and energy service companies to trial energy efficiency approaches in low income households.

Opt-in Arrangements

Please see the Opt-in scheme fact sheet on this website.

Regional Natural Resource Management Planning

The Regional Natural Resources Management Planning for Climate Change Fund helps to guide where biosequestration projects should be located in the landscape to maximise the benefits for biodiversity, water and agricultural production.

Regional Structural Adjustment

Regional Structural Adjustment assistance supports workers, regions and communities that remain strongly affected by carbon pricing after other forms of assistance have been provided.

Remote Indigenous Energy Program

The Remote Indigenous Energy Program provides financial support to communities to install renewable energy generation systems like solar panels and wind turbines.

Small Business Instant Asset Write-off Increase

The Small Business Instant Asset Write-off Threshold boosts cash flow and help small businesses to grow and invest in assets, which may be more energy efficient.

Steel Transformation Plan

The Steel Transformation Plan (STP) aims to encourage investment, innovation and competitiveness in the Australian steel manufacturing industry in order to assist the industry to transform into an efficient and economically sustainable industry in a low carbon economy. For more information please see the Support for the Australian Steel Industry fact sheet on this website.

Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Arrangements

Synthetic greenhouse gases, which comprise hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), will have an equivalent carbon price applied to them through the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989. Please see the Synthetic Greenhouse Gases fact sheet on this website.