The Clean Energy Future Fund (CEFF) is designed to support innovative clean energy projects throughout Western Australia. Currently, Round 4 applications have been opened to support practical initiatives that contribute to the diversification and decarbonisation of WA.
CEFF facilitates the implementation of projects that provide high public value by significantly reducing emissions below baseline levels or by demonstrating technologies likely to lead to broader adoption and community benefits.
As a key component of the Sectoral Emissions Reduction Strategy for Western Australia, the State Government has committed an additional $18 million through to 2030-31. This investment extends the total value of the Clean Energy Future Fund to $37 million. The fund is administered by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, receiving additional support from Energy Policy WA.
Clean Energy Future Fund Round 4 is now open
The 4th round of the Clean Energy Future Fund provides $9 million in available grants. Since its inception in 2020, three previous application rounds have been completed. All rounds have supported a total of 15 clean energy projects. Round 4 officially opened for applications on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, and is scheduled to close on Monday, 20 April 2026.
The specific details for this funding round are as follows:
| Key information | Value |
| Grant size range | $100,000 to $4 million (GST exclusive) |
| Total funds available | Approximately $9 million |
| Maximum percentage of eligible project costs | 25 per cent |
| Maximum time to spend funds | 5 years |
| Funding mechanism | Paid by milestone in arrears upon evidence of completion |
| Applications close | 8:00 am AWST, Monday 20 April 2026 |
| Outcome announcement | Estimated late 2026 |
Ministerial Priorities
Several particular priorities have been selected under Round 4 to steer the applicants towards those areas where the project proposals are especially sought after. These priorities include innovative projects that:
• Demonstrate meaningful participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in areas such as land access, decision-making, and employment.
• Support green exports and use clean energy to add value to Western Australian minerals.
• Focus on the fringe of the grid, or areas not connected to the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) or North West Interconnected System (NWIS).
• Increase the supply and resilience of networked electricity in alignment with the Distributed Energy Resources Roadmap.
• Decarbonise heavy industry and support the development of new, low-emissions industries.
• Reduce emissions from manufacturing or the built environment through electrification and energy productivity enhancements.
• Replace diesel electricity generation with renewable energy sources.
• Deliver long-duration energy storage capable of providing power for 10 hours or more by 2030.
• Maximise local content and support Western Australian manufacturing.
While these priorities provide guidance, applications are not strictly required to meet them to be eligible for consideration. There is no specific weighting attached to these priorities during the assessment process.
Who Could Apply
To be eligible for a funding agreement, applicants must be an Australian entity incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) or the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth). Other eligible entities include local governments, government research organisations, and universities. Consortia may also apply, provided the lead applicant is an eligible entity.
The lead applicant is typically the entity that will own the project assets during development and will be responsible for meeting all recipient obligations under the funding agreement. Other members of a consortium may provide expertise, capital, or resources. It is important to note that trusts and corporate trustees are not eligible for this round. Furthermore, Western Australian Government Trading Enterprises (GTEs) cannot apply as lead applicants but are permitted to partner with eligible lead applicants.
Merit Criteria and Evaluation
Projects are evaluated based on their potential for high emissions reduction and their capacity for wider adoption. The merit criteria also consider whether a project is likely to succeed and the extent to which it requires government funding support. This includes assessing whether a project would proceed without the grant.
Eligible clean energy projects are defined as those deploying technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the production or use of stationary energy. Stationary energy specifically excludes energy used for transportation, such as road vehicles, rail, water-borne, or air transport. However, transport-related technologies, such as grid management systems for electric vehicle charging, may still apply if they provide decarbonisation benefits to the electricity grid.
Financial and Project Requirements
Applicants are required to complete a financial model as part of their submission. If a project includes both a pilot and a commercial-scale stage, the funding sources and expenditure for each must be clearly separated within the model. The 25% funding rule is strictly applied to limit the State Government’s financial exposure, requiring other funders to assess the project as viable. In-kind support from Government Trading Enterprises, such as access to facilities or expertise, is generally treated separately from this financial exposure limit.
Grant payments are made in arrears following the completion of specified milestones. Once satisfactory evidence of expenditure and milestone completion is received, the department aims to pay invoices within 30 days. Furthermore, the successful candidates will be required to submit yearly financial reports that have been audited by an external auditor who holds a professional accreditation.
Historical Outcomes: Round 3
Round 3 concluded with seven successful projects receiving a total of $16 million in grants. With the help of these initiatives, it is anticipated that the greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by about 175,000 tonnes every year.
Successes in Rounds 1 and 2
Round 2, which closed in 2021, awarded $9.3 million to six projects. The inaugural Round 1 in 2020 awarded $1.8 million to two projects. Collectively, these early rounds have already begun generating significant electricity and avoiding substantial carbon emissions.
Application Guidance and Resources
Potential applicants can attend dedicated workshops to assist with their submissions. The presentation will occur from 10:00 am on 29 January 2026, which will be the time for the “About the grant” presentation. It will then be followed by the “Completing the financial model” session, which will start at 10:00 am on 3 February 2026. Recordings of these sessions will be made available for those unable to attend.
For projects involving renewable hydrogen, applicants are encouraged to contact the Renewable Hydrogen Unit within the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification. Furthermore, offshore wind farms located in Commonwealth waters are considered eligible if their onshore components and power connection sites are located within Western Australia.
The Clean Energy Future Fund represents a significant opportunity for Western Australian entities to lead the transition to a low-carbon future while securing economic benefits for the local community. In the same way that a primary producer carefully selects the best seeds to ensure a resilient and productive harvest, this fund seeks to identify and nurture the most promising clean energy innovations to secure the state’s future environmental and economic health.
Maximise Your Success with Pattens Group
If you are ready to claim your share of the $9 million available in this round, do not leave your application to chance. Contact Pattens Group today to begin the application process and ensure your clean energy innovation receives the funding it deserves before the 20 April 2026 deadline.
