Quad clean energy program to open in November

The Australian Government has announced that it will open applications to Round 1 of the Quad Clean Energy Supply Chain Diversification Program in November 2024.

According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), the grants under the program will fund research and development projects and feasibility studies to develop more diverse solar photovoltaic, hydrogen electrolyser and battery supply chains. Projects must be delivered as joint projects between Australian and Indo-Pacific organisations.

The Australian Government has committed AU$50 million to this program. Up to AU$25 million will be available under the first round, with grants ranging from $100,000 to $2.5 million.

The program was announced by the Quad — Australia, India, Japan and the United States — at the 2023 Leaders’ Summit. It supports the implementation of the Quad Principles on Clean Energy Supply Chains — a foundation for engagement on clean energy supply chains in the Indo-Pacific, including:

• raw material processing
• manufacturing of components
• assembly
• recycling
   

Organisations from India, Japan and the USA can also be additional project partners. Applications must be submitted by an Australian organisation on behalf of the group.

Round 2 of the project is expected to open in the second half of next year.

Registrations of interest can be made here.

Image credit: iStock.com/alvarez