Sports Clubs Can Access Up to $100,000 for Solar Through the Game On Grant
If your community sports club is feeling the pinch from rising energy costs, a new federal grant could be the answer. Game On: Teaming Up for Climate Action offers up to $100,000 per club for essential upgrades, including solar panels and battery storage.
Spark Energy Australia is already working with sporting clubs across South Australia on this program, providing energy assessments, solar and battery quotations, and project planning aligned with the grant’s requirements. If your club is considering applying, contact us today.
What is the Game On grant?
Game On: Teaming Up for Climate Action is an Australian Government program designed to help community sporting clubs cut their energy use and build resilience against extreme weather. With $35.262 million on offer across two funding rounds between 2026–27 and 2028–29, the program aims to support up to 500 clubs nationwide.
The motivation is straightforward: electricity is one of the highest costs a sports club carries. Floodlights, clubrooms, kitchens, and bars all draw power at peak-price times, and older facilities are especially exposed. This grant exists to close that gap by funding solar installations, battery storage, and efficiency upgrades that bring down bills and free up money for the things that matter: equipment, programs, and the next generation of players.
How much funding is on offer?
The program will distribute $35.262 million across two funding rounds between 2026 and 2029. Individual clubs can apply for between $25,000 and $100,000, covering up to 100% of eligible project costs. Projects that have already received grant funding from another Commonwealth program for the same activities are ineligible. Co-funding from private sponsorships, rebates and contributions is not necessary, but welcome. Successful applicants receive 90% of their funding upfront, with the final 10% paid upon completion and reporting of the project. For clubs that would otherwise struggle to cover costs before being reimbursed, that’s a significant practical advantage.
Key dates for Round 1
- Opens: 1 July 2026
- Closes: 9:00 pm AEST, 28 July 2026
- Questions due by: 5:00 pm AEST, 21 July 2026
First-come, first-served. Don’t wait for the closing date!
This round is assessed as applications come in, not all at once at the end. If demand outpaces the $17.631 million available, the round can close before 28 July. Clubs with a quote and supporting documents ready before 1 July will be in the best position to apply early. A second round is planned, but clubs can receive only one grant across both rounds, so we encourage clubs to submit their applications as early as possible.
Which clubs can apply?
This program targets grassroots and community clubs, not elite or professional sport. To apply individually, a club generally needs to:
- Have an ABN and bank account
- Be incorporated as a Company, Cooperative, Incorporated Association or Indigenous Corporation
- Be affiliated with a recognised state or national sporting organisation
- Operate on a not-for-profit basis and deliver community sport
Sole traders, partnerships, and unincorporated associations can’t apply on their own. However, clubs can band together, with a small consortium covering up to 10 clubs, and a large one covering up to 20.
What can the money be spent on?
This is where it gets practical. Eligible expenditure includes energy audits, solar PV systems and battery storage, switchboard and roof upgrades to support installations, LED lighting for courts and clubhouses, heat pumps for pool heating and hot water, and disaster-ready infrastructure for extreme weather events.
Solar panels and battery storage are explicitly named as eligible, along with any associated electrical or structural work needed to make the installation viable. Wages, land purchases, vehicles, and everyday costs like rent are excluded, since this is a grant for capital upgrades, not ongoing operating costs.
Why solar suits sports community clubs
Solar power is a natural fit for sports clubs due to their high energy demands during daylight hours. With training sessions, clubhouse operations, and weekend fixtures typically occurring when solar generation is at its peak, clubs can maximise their use of renewable energy.
Throughout the week, facilities like change rooms, bars, canteens, and floodlit ovals maintain a steady draw on power. By installing a system tailored to this specific load, a club can significantly reduce its reliance on expensive grid electricity. Integrating battery storage further enhances these benefits, allowing the club to reserve surplus solar energy for evening activities or weekend events.
Working with an experienced solar installer like Spark Energy Australia ensures the system is designed around a club’s actual energy use. A properly sized solar and battery system can reduce electricity costs, improve energy resilience, lower emissions, and free up funds for reinvestment in facilities, equipment, and community programs.
How sports clubs can apply for the Game On program
Applications are submitted through GrantConnect, the Australian Government’s grants portal. They’re assessed against three criteria: energy efficiency and climate resilience impact, community benefit, and project design and sustainability. Clubs also need supporting documents, including quotes, proof of sporting affiliation, and confirmation that the club has the authority to carry out works at the site. A real energy assessment and an early quote make for a stronger application.
What this means for sports clubs in Adelaide
With 100% project funding, a 90% upfront disbursement, and a first-come, first-served assessment model, these grants represent some of the most favourable terms ever offered to community sports organisations.
If rising utility costs have become a burden for your club, this program provides a rare chance to implement meaningful solar solutions without the financial strain of a full upfront investment. Remember that funding goes in the order applications are received, so clubs with quotes ready before 1 July 2026 will be best placed.
Spark Energy Australia specialises in solar and battery installations for commercial and community organisations, and we’re currently helping clubs get their quotes and project planning sorted before applications open.
Because the program follows a first-come, first-served model for eligible applicants, clubs that begin the process immediately will have the highest chance of securing funding. There’s no obligation and no cost for an initial consultation. Call us on 1300 785 525 or reach out through our website to get started.
FAQs
- Can sports clubs get funding for solar panels?
- Yes. Solar panels and battery storage are explicitly listed as eligible expenditure under the Game On grant, along with any switchboard or roof work needed to support the installation. Eligible community sports clubs can apply for between $25,000 and $100,000 towards a project.
- Can the grant cover battery storage?
- Yes. Battery storage is named alongside solar PV systems as eligible expenditure, so clubs can apply for a combined solar and battery project rather than just panels on their own.
- How much funding is available?
- Individual clubs can apply for between $25,000 and $100,000, with the grant covering up to 100% of eligible project costs. Round 1 has $17.631 million available nationally, out of $35.262 million across the whole program.
- Do clubs need to contribute their own funds?
- No, clubs don’t have to contribute funds themselves. The program is designed to cover up to 100% of eligible project costs, with co-funding optional rather than required.
