Objectives
To help your business identify the opportunities for reducing reliance on piped natural gas, and get a preliminary assessment of the technical and financial feasibility of each option.
Eligibility
- New Zealand registered businesses that spend $30,000 to $400,000 a year on piped natural gas.
- The business or organisation must own or manage the plant or building that the project relates to.
What the funding covers
An options assessment conducted by a qualified, EECA-approved service provider to identify and analyse efficiency opportunities and alternative fuel solutions for reducing piped natural gas use.
This funding includes:
- A detailed onsite walkthrough of your system by a suitably qualified energy consultant.
- A report exploring viable options, including indicative and comparable costings for each solution.
- A recommendation for which option, or suite of options, represent the optimal course of action for reducing reliance on natural gas over time.
Co-funding is available for up to 50% of the cost of an options assessment, up to a maximum of $5,000 excluding GST.
What kind of project is this for?
Projects can be in an industrial or commercial setting, and relate to any technology or process that uses natural gas for process heat.
For example, you might apply for funding to determine the viability of upgrading a heating system or converting a heat plant to use an alternative fuel.
This co-funding will give you more confidence when deciding the right next step for your operation, whether that’s a detailed feasibility study or proceeding directly to implementation.
Who should apply
Businesses with piped natural gas bills of $30,000 to $400,000 per year.
You must also:
- own or manage the plant or building that the assessment relates to (you can use a consultant to develop an application in the name of a business owner or manager)
- use a qualified consultant who has no vested interest in potential solutions to undertake the assessment
- demonstrate that the cost of the assessment is competitive
- commit to providing information relating to the outcomes of the assessment to EECA up to 12 months following completion of the assessment.
How to apply
To apply for an options assessment, you will need to submit an online application form.
To complete the form you will need:
- a copy of one natural gas invoice for your site from the past 12 months
- an estimate of your site’s annual energy usage and spend by energy type (you can find this on your energy supplier’s invoices)
- a copy of your business bank account details (for invoice reimbursement).
Once you have submitted your application form, EECA will confirm acceptance or seek further information within 5 working days.
Application process
Please read the requirements for filling in the form carefully — you can save changes as you go. It will likely take around 30 minutes to complete.
Approved service provider list
Explore our list to see who could help with your options assessment.
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EECA’s support for gas users
We've updated our support for gas-using businesses as part of the government's new Gas Transition Loan Guarantee Scheme. Participating banks are offering more favourable lending terms for projects by New Zealand-based businesses looking to reduce their use of piped natural gas.
Our updated co-funding focuses on helping businesses to identify opportunities for reducing reliance on gas and get investment ready.
Head to our gas support page for more information about funding opportunities, plus resources and tools to help you take effective action on reducing gas use.