CleanTech Cluster launched to support Australian green business growth

A new, industry-based mechanism to help Australian clean technology companies gain financial and commercial backing – as well as access to the broader market – has been launched in Perth this week, as part of industry-led efforts to fill the breach in federal government support.

Billed as a “one-stop-shop” for clean energy, water and waste management solutions, the Australian CleanTech Cluster – which originally secured funding under the Labor Gillard government, but lost it under the Abbott government – was relaunched on Wednesday, in partnership with Axsess Finance in Melbourne and Corporate Carbon in Sydney.

The Cluster’s 300 members will have access to three different types of financial solutions: matched and pre-funding for grants and R&D tax rebates; project finance for building upgrade and industrial energy efficiency projects; and bids to the Emissions Reduction Fund auctions.

“We are very excited by the prospect that these financial solutions offer to our members. We see this as an opportunity for many of them to make a step change in their growth,” said John O’Brien, the cluster manager.

Meanwhile, members can offer their services to other cleantech companies, including solutions for renewable energy, water, waste, recycling, energy efficiency, energy storage, building products, transport technologies and environmental services.

“We aim to provide a simple, easy and cost effective way in which the mining, manufacturing, agriculture, property and Infrastructure sectors can interact with companies and organisations that provide cleantech solutions”, said O’Brien.

Already, he says, the Cluster has helped Lend Lease find solutions for Barangaroo, worked with the fishing industry in Port Lincoln to manage wastewater and presented efficiency solutions to the manufacturing sector.