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The Driving the Nation Program is continuously open for applications that contribute to the Program Objectives:

• Overcome barriers to accelerate uptake of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs).
• Optimise the integration of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) into the grid.
• Demonstrate new technology, use cases and business models for ZEVs.
• Increase skills, capacity and knowledge relevant to ZEV technologies.

In addition, projects are required to align with one or more of the Driving the Nation Focus Areas. The current Focus Areas are Trucks, Charging, V2G and Innovation:

• Focus Area 1: Demonstration and deployment of heavy BEVs
• Focus Area 2: Deployment of heavy BEV charging solutions
• Focus Area 3: V2G and Innovation

Funding provided through Battery Breakthrough Initiative (BBI) may include capital grants, production incentives or other payments deemed appropriate by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) for the project. ARENA may take a portfolio approach to selecting Projects for funding, giving consideration to how a Project will contribute to the Program Outcomes either uniquely or as part of a suite of complementary ARENA activities.

BBI is an open, merit-based program which will remain open until funds are exhausted or otherwise terminated or extended by ARENA.

The program’s objective is to fund projects that contribute to one or more of the following program outcomes:

• Enhance Australia’s battery manufacturing capability to improve supply chain resilience and support emissions reduction
• Commercialise battery manufacturing processes and technologies that can contribute to emissions reduction.

The Future Made in Australia (FMA) Innovation Fund (the Program) administered by ARENA will provide up to $1.5 billion in grant funding to support pre-commercial innovation, demonstration and deployment of renewable energy and low emission technologies (Technologies), to support Australia’s transition to a net zero economy. FMA is an ongoing program which will remain open until funding is exhausted or ARENA closes the Program. Successful projects are expected to achieve one or more of the following Program Outcomes:

• increase uptake of the Technologies through innovation and commercialisation activities.
• improve Australia’s capability and capacity to produce or manufacture the Technologies.
• support and/or contribute to stronger supply chains to enable increased use of the Technologies.
• improve knowledge, skills and/or workforce participation associated with the Technologies.

ARENA undertook targeted consultation through March and April 2025 with market participants, key consultancies and industry bodies and associations, to understand and identify industries and areas most suited for funding within the priority areas.

The FMA Innovation Fund launched in December 2025 and will be an ongoing, open program. Grant funding will be available across three Priorities (the Priorities):

• $750 million to Green Metals including iron, steel, alumina and aluminium.
• Initial tranche of $200 million to Renewable Energy Technology Manufacturing (RETM) to enable development of technologies seeking to alleviate critical supply chain challenges facing the clean energy transition.
• $250 million to Low Carbon Liquid Fuels (LCLF) including sustainable aviation fuels and renewable diesel.

The Industrial Transformation Stream (ITS) is open for applications supporting a range of industrial decarbonisation solutions, including but not limited, to electrification, energy efficiency, low emissions processing and fuel switching. Enabling technologies such as energy storage, demand management and critical infrastructure supporting onsite decarbonisation may also be considered. Funding is guided by the Program Focus Areas.

About the program

The objectives of the ITS Program are to:

• Support industrial facilities in regional Australia to reduce emissions in line with Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction goals and transition to net zero by 2050.
• Improve technology readiness and commercial readiness of renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency technologies and electrification technologies that will result in a significant reduction in scope 1 and/or scope 2 emissions or improve the energy efficiency of an industrial process or processes.
• Encourage technology demonstration, collaboration and knowledge sharing across industry and/or regions.
• Support upskilling of existing industrial workforce in new decarbonisation activities.

ITS is now open to applications for Round 3 on an open, ongoing basis. 

Funding will be available until funding is exhausted.

Focus areas - Round 3

Opened in September 2025, ARENA has allocated the remaining $180 million of ITS funding towards Round 3. This is an open, ongoing round where ARENA will remain open to new applications until ITS grant funding is exhausted.

Round 3’s Focus Areas are:

• innovation in industrial decarbonisation; and
• advancing commercial deployment.

The Program can support projects ranging from feasibility studies and front-end engineering and design (FEED) to trials, demonstrations and deployment. Two-stage projects combining a study and subsequent deployment will also be considered.

ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program supports a broad range of development, demonstration and pre-commercial deployment projects that can deliver affordable and reliable renewable energy for Australian families and businesses.

The program’s objective is to fund activities that contribute to one or more of the following outcomes:

• reduction in the cost of renewable energy
• increase in the value delivered by renewable energy
• improvement in technology readiness and commercial readiness of renewable energy
• reduction in or removal of barriers to renewable energy uptake
• increased skills, capacity and knowledge relevant to renewable energy

This fund is open to applications for all activities identified in the ARENA Investment Plan, except the competitive rounds. Applications for the competitive activities are accepted during competitive rounds.