Grant assistance pays off for Mars

Mars Food Australia has won a $190,866 grant with help from Energy Action’s Activ8+ team. The company was seeking funding to assist with an energy-efficient lighting upgrade costing more than $570,000.

The Activ8+ team assisted Mars with its application for funding under the Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program. In February, Minister for Industry and Innovation Greg Combet announced approval of the application. The grant will cover a third of the project cost.

Mars will install energy-efficient light fittings and controls to its facilities using the grant money. The project is expected to reduce the carbon emissions intensity of Mars’ lighting system and result in savings of $77,000 in energy costs per year.

The Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program provides support to food manufacturers looking to invest in energy-efficient capital equipment and low-emission technologies, processes and products.