EECA grants August 15

The next round of grants in the Government’s low emission vehicles contestable fund will be announced on August 15.

About $4.5 million will be allocated in the sixth round of the fund administered by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

Some 75 applications were received for round six, with round seven opening soon and applications for that closing in September, EECA chief executive Andrew Caseley says.

The successful round six applications are expected to be announced by energy and resources minister Megan Woods.

The fund offers about $7 million annually to co-fund projects with private and public sector partners, usually in areas where commercial returns aren’t yet strong enough to justify full private investment.

How long the fund will continue Caseley couldn’t say, but he told about 200 delegates at the EVworld NZ conference in Auckland that $17 million had been approved over five rounds with about $45.4m worth of projects supported.

Noting the increased threat of climate change, Caseley says EECA supports “clean and clever” energy use in which New Zealand is a world leader, and that about 94 projects had been done.

Funding outcomes included support for a wide range of EV and low emission vehicle related projects, including delivery vans, e-truck development, charging infrastructure, new tech such as vehicle-to-grid and home technology, EV training, e-buses, electric car share and taxis, EV battery work, and more.

Caseley outlined some case studies and says the fund can’t keep supporting proven projects or it risks being seen as a subsidy, which could put the entire fund at risk.

“The fund is not a quasi-subsidy,” he adds.

“There are still opportunities for demonstrations such as more sophisticated charging and we need to be ahead of the game.”

Caseley says there’s also a focus on sharing knowledge and encouraging replication of successful projects.

He says applicants need to be “project ready” when vying for the fund – and “milestone delivery is paramount”.

Caseley warns that some applicants may even risk cancellation if they can’t meet their time frames.