If you’re a Group 2 company with operations in NSW, this is your first mandatory climate reporting period under AASB S2. Governance. Strategy. Climate risk. Metrics and targets. All four pillars, mandatory, for the first time.
NSW has committed to cutting emissions by 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2035, against 2005 levels, on the way to net zero by 2050. The Net Zero Planning Grant is one of the ways the state government is backing businesses to get there, and Round 1 drew strong demand when it launched in January 2025.
Businesses I speak with have budgeted for this work, but few have checked whether some of it can be funded from elsewhere.
Applications have just opened for the NSW Net Zero Planning Grant and it’s worth ten minutes of your time to see if you qualify.
What the grant covers
The grant provides up to $25,000, covering up to 50% of the planning phase cost to build three things: your net zero strategy, your GHG inventory, and your climate risk assessment.
That’s the groundwork your ASRS reporting depends on. Rather than relying solely on cashflow to fund it, this NSW Government grant covers part of the planning phase, helping you get ready for ASRS report submission.
Here’s how the funding is structured. It isn’t paid as a single lump sum. It’s delivered in two milestones:
- Milestone 1 identifies the key actions your business needs to take toward net zero, across pillars including strategy (with climate-related risk and opportunity assessment), governance, metrics and targets, and net zero action planning.
- Milestone 2 funds detailed work on one or more of those categories. For most Group 2 businesses, this is where your GHG inventory and net zero action plan could get built.
Together, these two milestones fund your planning phase, up to $25,000 from the NSW Government, covering up to 50% of the cost. Your business co-funds the remaining 50% of the same work.
Acumentis ESG can support you through your grant funding delivery and while doing so build capability in your team to take your ASRS reporting forward.
Are you eligible?
You need NSW operations and one of the following:
- Energy spend of $200,000 or more at a single site, or
- Energy spend of $500,000 or more across multiple sites in NSW, this includes all purchased fuels.
You’ll also need an Australian Business Number (ABN), be registered for GST, and have a registered business address in NSW.
If that sounds like your business, it’s worth checking the detail. Full eligibility criteria and funding guidelines are available on the NSW Government’s website: NSW Net Zero Planning Grant →
Applications close 30 November, or earlier if the funding pool runs out
This isn’t a rolling program. Once the total pool of $2 million is exhausted, it’s exhausted, regardless of the date. If you think you’re eligible, the sooner you check, the better.
How Acumentis ESG can support you
The grant requires an appointed consultant to guide your net zero planning. We’d welcome that role for your business.
We’ve helped businesses secure this grant in previous rounds, so we know what assessors are looking for and how to put together an application that gets across the line.
Here’s how it works:
- We assess your eligibility. A short, no-cost, no-obligation conversation to confirm whether you meet the criteria.
- We give you free access to our technology. Analysis of your energy consumption for the submission is prepared.
- We prepare your application. We provide you the information needed for your submission, drawing on what we’ve learned from previous successful applications.
- You only pay if you’re funded. If the application isn’t successful, there’s no fee.
This is the same approach we take across all our ESG work. We’re not here to create dependency. We’re here to build your internal capability, so your business is better placed to manage this reporting cycle and the ones that follow.
Next step
If you’re a Group 2 company with NSW operations, book 15 minutes with me and I’ll tell you straight away whether you qualify, and what the planning phase could look like for your business.
Acumentis ESG helps Australian businesses navigate mandatory climate reporting under AASB S2 and ASRS, from initial readiness assessment through to disclosure. Our services include Climate & Compliance Advisory (ASRS Reporting), Climate & Urban Resilience Advisory, Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Advisory, Climate Scenario & Resilience Modelling, Climate & Nature Assurance, and Carbon Farming & Natural Capital Advisory.
