ARENA Industrial Energy Transformation Studies Program

Historical grant notice, checked 23 October 2026: ARENA says the Industrial Energy Transformation Studies (IETS) Program closed in December 2023 and was superseded by the National Industrial Transformation (NIT) Program. ARENA now marks NIT closed to new applications too. This page records the former IETS opportunity; it is not an invitation to apply.

What IETS supported

IETS was a $43 million program for studies that helped large energy users investigate ways to reduce energy costs and emissions. It supported feasibility and engineering work for industrial energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, including associated metering. ARENA identified agriculture, mining, manufacturing, gas supply, water and waste services, and data centres among the relevant sectors, subject to its guidelines.

Stream A covered feasibility studies: independent assessment of a proposed project's technical, economic, financial and other practical questions. Historical grant requests were $100,000 to $500,000. Stream B covered engineering or front-end engineering design work to support a final investment decision, with historical requests of $250,000 to $5 million. These figures describe the closed program, not available funding today.

Current funding pathway

ARENA's IETS page confirms the closure. Its NIT page also marks that successor closed. ARENA currently identifies Industrial Transformation Stream Round 3 as open on an ongoing basis until its allocated grant funding is exhausted, subject to active focus areas and ARENA's current guidelines. A project eligible under IETS is not automatically eligible for ITS.

For a new project, check ARENA's live program status, focus areas, eligible site and applicant, co-contribution, assessment stages and funding availability before preparing an expression of interest. Build the case around the facility's energy and emissions baseline, proposed technology, expected reductions, costs and measurement plan. Keep grant support separate from the project's underlying commercial assessment.

Related Northmore Gordon guidance

Is ARENA's IETS Program still open for applications?

No. ARENA says the Industrial Energy Transformation Studies Program closed in December 2023. This page preserves its historical terms; applicants cannot rely on the former rolling-submission or quarterly-assessment instructions. Check ARENA's current funding pages before planning a new submission.

What did the IETS Program fund?

The former $43 million program supported feasibility and engineering studies, with associated metering, to investigate industrial energy efficiency and renewable-energy solutions. ARENA's historical program page and guidelines set out the sector and project tests that applied at the time.

What were IETS Stream A and Stream B?

Stream A funded feasibility studies intended to assess a project's technical, economic and other practical viability; historical grant requests were $100,000 to $500,000. Stream B funded engineering or front-end engineering design work that could support a final investment decision; historical requests were $250,000 to $5 million. Neither stream is open under IETS now.

Could an IETS grant cover all study costs?

No. Under the former IETS terms, ARENA could contribute up to 50% of eligible study costs, subject to its guidelines and assessment. That percentage was a historical ceiling, not a current offer or an approval guarantee.

Did IETS apply to every industrial business?

No. ARENA targeted studies linked to eligible sectors and an identified facility. The former page lists agriculture, mining, manufacturing, gas supply, water and waste services, and data centres, but an applicant still had to meet the detailed program and project tests in the relevant guidelines.

Is the National Industrial Transformation Program still open as IETS's replacement?

No. ARENA says NIT superseded IETS, but its current NIT funding page also marks NIT closed to new applications. Its terms should not be presented as a live alternative.

What ARENA industrial decarbonisation funding can organisations check now?

ARENA currently lists Industrial Transformation Stream Round 3 as open on an ongoing basis until its allocated funding is exhausted. The program has active focus areas, an expression-of-interest process and current guidelines. Confirm live status and eligibility with ARENA; prior IETS or NIT eligibility does not carry across automatically.

How should a business prepare an industrial energy project while checking funding?

Define the site and operating boundary, baseline energy use and emissions, proposed technology, expected savings, project costs, delivery risks and a measurement method. Check any live funding program's applicant, project, co-contribution and evidence rules separately. Assess the project's commercial case without assuming a grant award.

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