The CEFC & primary producers

With the costs of implementing green technology lowering significantly in recent years, 2022 presents an opportune time for primary producers to enter or continue to expand their green assets.

The CEFC and how they can assist you

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is helping to cut emissions by investing $10 billion on behalf of the Australian government in agriculture, cleantech innovation, energy generation and storage, infrastructure, property, transport and waste.

Acting as an Australian government owned Green Bank with the goal of facilitating increased financial flow into the clean energy sector. The benchmark for direct CEFC funding is larger type investments of greater than $20 million, which in our experience would fall outside most primary producer businesses. To assist primary producers the CEFC has partnered with a select group of lenders who provide asset finance from $5,000.

As part of the scheme, lenders supported by CEFC, are able to offer businesses of all sizes discounted interest rates on finance for eligible clean energy assets. The criteria being that the investment will reduce energy use or generate renewable energy.

Projects to consider

The CEFC in conjunction with the National Farmers Network has identified 51 clean energy investments ranging from $5,000 to greater than $100,000, within the categories of:

• Energy audit
• On-farm energy production
• Vehicles and machinery
• Irrigation and pumping
• Buildings, heating, and cooling
• Precision agriculture
• Emerging technologies

Forvis Mazars has been working with a number of commercial lenders who provide CEFC supported finance. For assistance in analysing the viability and financial return of clean investments, or assistance in obtaining CEFC funding either directly or through a commercial lender,

please contact your usual Forvis Mazars advisor or our specialists John Kotzur and Matthew Beasley for a confidential discussion via the form below or on:

Published: 06/06/2022

All rights reserved. This publication in whole or in part may not be reproduced, distributed or used in any manner whatsoever without the express prior and written consent of Forvis Mazars, except for the use of brief quotations in the press, in social media or in another communication tool, as long as Forvis Mazars and the source of the publication are duly mentioned. In all cases, Forvis Mazars’ intellectual property rights are protected and the Forvis Mazars Group shall not be liable for any use of this publication by third parties, either with or without Forvis Mazars’ prior authorisation. Also please note that this publication is intended to provide a general summary and should not be relied upon as a substitute for personal advice. Content is accurate as at the date published.