Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET): Secure Up to $5 Million in Australian Energy Grants

Key Points

• The Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program is a grant program in Australia that aims to improve the operation of the electricity grid.
• Starting on 15 July 2025, the program is expected to distribute grants of up to $5 million to support the integration of renewable energy.
• The program’s main aim is to improve the grid through the utilisation of grid-enhancing technologies like making it larger, more economical, and more environmentally friendly.

The Australian electricity grid is at a critical point. The country’s energy infrastructure is under increasing pressure to accommodate renewable energy sources, alleviate network congestion, and provide consumers with affordable power.

The Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program offers businesses a unique opportunity to secure substantial funding for upgrading and modernising their energy networks.

Program Overview: Accelerating Australian Energy Solutions

The Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program represents a strategic investment in Australia’s energy future. Administered by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW), this competitive grant initiative provides up to $5 million in funding to accelerate the development and deployment of grid-enhancing technologies across Australian electricity networks.

The program delivers on the government’s commitment to secure, reliable, and affordable energy for all Australians. The project is provided with a pool of $30 million in total, with a duration of four years (2025–26 to 2028–29). The GET program emphasises such projects as mainly the increase of existing infrastructural capacity, as well as the promise of a cleaner, greener, and sustainable energy future for everyone in Australia.

The Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program will accept applications starting at 10:00 AM AEST on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, and ending at 5:00 PM AEST on Monday, 11 August 2025.

The need for prompt action is underscored by the short application window, which requires swift preparation and submission.

Key Objectives and Intended Outcomes

The Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program pursues dual objectives that address critical infrastructure needs:

Primary Objectives:

• Demonstrating and testing the effectiveness of grid-enhancing technologies on Australian electricity networks
• Identifying costs and benefits of key technologies and pathways for wider application across Australian electricity networks

Target Outcomes:

• Greater Network Utilisation: Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) aims to enhance the productivity of existing network infrastructure, enabling more renewable energy to reach consumers more quickly. This additional capacity puts downward pressure on wholesale power prices, which in turn lowers the cost of energy for both Australian households and businesses.
• Congestion Mitigation: By addressing “black spots” of congestion in current networks, Grid Enhancing Technologies reduce the curtailment of renewable energy generation, thereby increasing capacity and reliability both within and outside the grid and maximising the output of renewable energy.
• Infrastructure Optimisation: The program aims to reduce or delay the need for additional network infrastructure. This optimisation lowers the network cost component of energy bills while minimising the environmental impact on communities hosting infrastructure compared to greenfield transmission projects.
• Enhanced Resilience: Through improved network visibility and control, the program strengthens resilience and safety against bushfires, extreme weather events, cyber security threats, and other system security challenges.

Funding Details and Financial Support

The Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program offers generous financial support to eligible projects:

• Funding Range: Grants between $250,000 and $5,000,000
• Coverage: Up to 100% of eligible expenditure
• Total Program Value: $30 million over four years
• Project Completion Deadline: 31 March 2029.

Eligible expenditure must constitute direct project costs incurred by the applicant for the required project activities. Detailed guidance on eligible and ineligible expenditure appears in Appendices A and B of the program guidelines, respectively.

Who Can Apply for Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program:

Eligible Entities

Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements to participate in the Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program:

Basic Requirements:

• Australian Business Number (ABN)
• GST registration
• Non-income tax-exempt status

Entity Types:

• Entities incorporated in Australia
• Universities
• Publicly funded research organisations (PFRO), as defined in section 14 of the guidelines
• Commonwealth, state, territory, or local government bodies (including government business enterprises)

Ineligible Entities

The program excludes several entity types:

• Organisations not specified in section 4.1 of the guidelines
• Organisations on the National Redress Scheme’s list of institutions that have not joined or signified intent to join
• Employers of 100 or more employees that have not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
• Individuals
• Regional Development Australia Committees
• Unincorporated associations
• Partnerships
• Trusts (except incorporated trustees may apply on behalf of a trust)

Partnership Opportunities

Organisations may collaborate as groups to deliver projects under the Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program. Groups must appoint an eligible entity as the lead organisation. Only the lead organisation can submit the application form and enter into the grant agreement with the Commonwealth. All project partners are required to provide letters of support.

Eligible Projects and Requirements

Project Scope

Projects must align with program objectives and deliver measurable benefits for Australian energy consumers. The Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program supports projects that:

• Accelerate the development, trialling, and application of grid-enhancing technologies in electricity networks
• Test and demonstrate the effectiveness of technologies that support Australian electricity networks
• Identify the costs and benefits of key technologies and pathways for wider application

Project Timeline

All funded projects must achieve completion by 31 March 2029. These timelines are sufficient for the development and implementation of complex technology projects.

Assessment Process and Criteria

To ensure the optimal distribution of funding, the Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program employs a rigorous two-phase evaluation process. Verification of eligibility is conducted through program requirements in the first stage, and an expert committee uses weighted criteria to evaluate merit in the second stage.

Two-Stage Assessment

Stage 1: Eligibility verification against program criteria.

Stage 2: Merit assessment by expert committee using weighted criteria

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Criterion 1: Project Alignment (40 points)

Projects must demonstrate precise alignment with program objectives and intended outcomes. Applications should articulate how proposed activities will advance grid-enhancing technologies and deliver consumer benefits.

Assessment Criterion 2: Capacity and Capability (20 points)

Only the applicants who assert their organisational capacity, technical capability, and the availability of sufficient resources will be able to deliver the outlined projects on time. This implies the presence of personnel with the required expertise, the ability to use certain infrastructures, and satisfactory access to financial resources.

Assessment Criterion 3: Project Outcomes (20 points)

Applications must outline expected project outcomes, including quantifiable benefits for Australian energy consumers and the broader electricity network.

Minimum Score Requirement

Applications must achieve a score of at least 50% against each assessment criterion to qualify for funding recommendation.

How Can Your Business Increase the Chances of Winning This Grant?

Getting ahead in the ultra-competitive Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program is a game of smart planning and application development. Winning applications often possess the following features, and therefore, it is necessary to look for professional guidance:

Substantial Technical Merit

An exhibit of those innovative grid-enhancing technologies that are for sure applicable to Australian electrical networks is a must in proposals. The technical remedies communicate the specific network problem, and the measured gain that they produce is obvious.

Detailed Project Planning

A winning application must incorporate the critical aspect of detailed project plans, which outline the milestones, deliverables, and timelines. Also, the roadmap, which comprises risk management strategies and contingency measures, is the one that guarantees the project’s viability.

Quantified Benefits

The application for the GET program consists of thorough cost-benefit analyses that will showcase how these proposed technologies can decrease network expenses, improve reliability, or plug more renewable energy sources into the network.

Organisational Capability

Demonstrate your organisation’s track record in similar projects, technical expertise, and financial capacity to deliver complex infrastructure projects.

Stakeholder Engagement

Show evidence of stakeholder support, including letters from network operators, energy retailers, or other industry participants who will benefit from or support your project.

Professional Presentation

Applications require professional presentation with clear documentation, supporting evidence, and comprehensive business cases.

Critical Deadline: Applications must be submitted by Monday, 11 August 2025, at 5:00 PM AEST. Late applications will not be accepted.

Technology Focus Areas and Innovation Opportunities

The Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program plays a significant role in the support of a wide variety of cutting-edge technologies that improve electricity network performance:

• Dynamic Line Rating Systems: Technologies that monitor real-time transmission line capacity based on weather conditions, allowing increased power flow during favourable conditions.
• Advanced Monitoring and Control Systems: Smart grid technologies that deliver increased visibility into network operations, thereby allowing systematic management of the grid problem in an active way and also reacting to the abnormal situation in the quickest possible manner.
• Energy Storage Integration: Technologies that facilitate the integration of battery storage into existing network infrastructure, thereby enhancing grid stability and increasing the utilisation of renewable energy, are available.
• Demand Response Technologies: Systems that enable better coordination between electricity supply and demand, reducing peak load stress on network infrastructure.
• Renewable Energy Integration Solutions: Technologies that improve the connection and operation of renewable energy sources within existing network constraints.
• Cybersecurity Enhancements: Systems that protect grid infrastructure from cyber threats while maintaining operational efficiency and reliability.

Program Benefits for Australian Energy Consumers

The Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program is the gateway to significant advantages for Australian energy consumers which is through more efficient network operation and lower costs:

• Lower Energy Bills: By optimising existing infrastructure and reducing the need for new transmission lines, the program helps keep network costs down, contributing to lower energy bills for consumers.
• Improved Reliability: Outage duration through enhanced grid monitoring systems and control systems, accompanied by better system reliability, and thus, the power supply to homes and business establishments is consistent.
• Increased Renewable Energy Access: By addressing network congestion and improving renewable energy integration, the program enables more clean energy to reach consumers.
• Enhanced System Security: Reliability and operational efficiency of grid infrastructure are ensured by the systems that defend the grid against cyber threats.

Conclusion

The Grid Enhancing Technologies GET program is a very remarkable platform for Australian businesses to secure massive funding for their innovative energy infrastructure projects. The GET program can help projects deploy technologies more quickly that will be used in the future to power Australia. They get up to $5 million for each project, and the Grid Enhancing Technologies program covers a wide range of eligible expenditures.

To be successful in this competitive program, one must keep proper planning and coding by professionals and show technical merit and consumer benefits clearly. Therefore, the Australian companies that are thinking of applying should immediately start their preparations, as they will need to submit several documents to the authorities.

The GET program is a stance of Australia toward converting to an eco-friendly and energy-saving approach. By endorsing the creative technologies that best use the current infrastructure, the program builds a more reliable, less expensive, and sustainable electricity supply network all Australians can profit from.

Applications open on 15 July 2025 and close on 11 August 2025. Eligible organisations should assess their project readiness and consider professional assistance to maximise their chances of securing funding through this transformative program.

Get Professional Help with Your Application

Given the competitive nature of the Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program and the substantial funding available, professional assistance can significantly improve your application success rate. Pattens Group is Australia’s best government grants consultant, providing end-to-end support that includes grant application preparation, detailed business case development, financial forecasting, industry analysis, and risk management planning.

We understand assessment criteria and can help position your application for maximum impact with services covering project milestone planning, cost-benefit analysis, stakeholder relations strategies, and comprehensive documentation quality assurance. As one of the primary classes of competitive funding, your inventive energy infrastructure project will likely miss the opportunity to secure financing from the GET program without professional guidance and timely application submission before the deadline. Hiring an expert ensures that your application runs like a well-optimised machine, meeting all the conditions and presenting itself attractively to the committee of judges. Please contact us today and supercharge your chances of obtaining Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program funding.

FAQs About Grid Enhancing Technologies (GET) program