Cabinet In The Access to Funding

ANAO Report No.11 2014–15 The Award of Grants under the Clean Technology Program 90

4. Reduction in Emissions

In the context of the program objective, this chapter examines the assessment of the extent to which applications would reduce carbon emissions intensity. Introduction

4.1 As

the primary objective of the programs was to reduce the carbon emissions intensity of manufacturers, the assessment framework developed by the department to score applications heavily weighted merit criterion one. 110 In this respect, the department advised ANAO in June 2014 that: The rationale behind the weightings of the merit criteria was to ensure that only those projects which delivered a significant reduction in carbon emissions intensity as outlined in the Guidelines could be funded. This reflects the Program objective. The weighting for this criterion ensured that applications which scored poorly against this criterion but performed very well against the remaining program criteria could not be funded. This was done at the direction of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

4.2 Accordingly,

ANAO examined the:  approach taken to assessing the extent of the reduction in carbon emissions intensity claimed in applications; and  consistency of the assessment approach with the published merit criteria, objective of the programs and the original policy intent. Scoring methodology developed for merit criterion one

4.3 The

program guidelines described merit criterion one as ‘the extent of the reduction in carbon emissions intensity, including through improvements in energy efficiency arising from the proposed project’. Although carbon emissions intensity was not defined in the program guidelines, it was defined in the customer guidelines as the number of tonnes of greenhouse gases that 110 The weighting was 70 per cent for applications seeking funding of less than 1.5 million, and 58 per cent for applications seeking funding of more than 1.5 million. For the weightings of all merit criteria see Table 2.1 on page 48.   ANAO Report No.11 2014–15 The Award of Grants under the Clean Technology Program