Strengthening Integration for First Nations Peoples

ARENA would like to acknowledge Australia’s traditional custodians and their deep cultural ties and history with country. First Nations people have lived on this land for over 60,000 years and remain the oldest continuous culture in the world. Their deep care and connection to country provides insight and opportunities for partnership on the path to net zero emissions.

Ensuring that First Nations people have a greater voice and participation in the future is key. This includes collaborative research and development, project ownership, and shared and inclusive benefits from transformative projects on traditional lands and in First Nations communities.

Here are some ARENA projects that combine some or all of these elements.

Daly River Research Project

Many microgrids in the Northern Territory use power generated by diesel engines, which are expensive, polluting and can be unreliable.

ARENA financed Research on key technical, design, implementation and operational issues for mini-grid systems in remote Australia. Research into a hybrid solar-diesel power system to reduce emissions and provide clean energy to remote communities.

Former ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht says that “many remote Australian communities rely on diesel generators, which are expensive to run and difficult to predict due to volatile fuel prices. Furthermore, delivering fuel long distances is expensive, dangerous and weather dependent.”

First Nations Community Micro-Networks

As part of the Regional Micronetwork Program, ARENA has launched $75 million stream for microgrid projects in First Nations communities in August 2023.

Microgrids are a reliable way to provide cheaper renewable energy, especially in communities without grid infrastructure.

ARENA CEO Darren Miller said: “It is imperative that we ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in remote communities can participate in the energy transition and enjoy the benefits of Australia’s renewable future,” Miller said.

A key part of this program, which will run until December 2025, is removing barriers and ensuring benefits are shared with First Nations peoples.

East Kimberley Clean Energy Project

In total, thanks to ARENA funding of $1.67 million, East Kimberley Project is the first solution of this type.

Traditional owners representing Balanggarra, Miriuwung and Gajerrongin conjunction with the Aboriginal Clean Energy Partnership (ACEP), Kimberley Land Council and Pollination, will oversee a feasibility study to build a large-scale hydrogen and ammonia production facility in the East Kimberley.



The project, now in its first phase, gives First Nations partners control over the decision-making process to enhance collaboration and share benefits.

Lawford Benning, MG Corp CEO, said: “This is an exciting new adventure that has the potential to provide the Traditional Owners, the Miriuwung, Gajerrong and Balanggarra people, with the opportunity to work with the Kimberley Land Council and Pollination to transition to a greener and cleaner way of working, utilising our own natural resources here in the East Kimberley.

We can’t do this alone. It will take great leadership and support from our federal government, working with the Western Australian government, to support us in getting this right.”

Northern Territory Solar Energy Transformation Program

Announced on 31 May 2018, the Northern Territory Solar Energy Transformation Program has implemented renewable energy systems to 26 remote communities across the Northern Territory. Most of the communities are home to Indigenous people who often rely on diesel generators. The aim of the project was to reduce this reliance, which is expensive and prone to price fluctuations, and to create employment opportunities in remote communities and provide renewable energy that could be expanded in the future.

The project was completed in 2019 and over the 25-year life of the program it will reduce the use of diesel fuel by 15%.

Chief Executive of Energy and Water Michael Thomson said: “This project demonstrates how the provision of cost-effective, renewable energy can be used to provide reliable power to remote communities where energy demand and costs are high.”

Yulara Solar Project

Under the leadership of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Yulara Resort near Uluru A solar power system was integrated on-site with financial support from ARENA in 2016 and in cooperation with Ark Energy.

The existing energy system was powered solely by compressed natural gas (CNG), delivered daily by train from Alice Springs, 450km away.

Given the abundant solar energy resources available, it was determined that integrating solar energy into the energy system would help manage the resort’s energy expenditures over the long term, reduce exposure to energy price fluctuations and lower the resort’s overall carbon footprint.

The introduction of a robust, renewable power system helps reduce climate impacts and lower operating costs for indigenous people, which could provide a case study for other ecotourism operators.

The work continues

ARENA also works to increase Indigenous peoples’ representation on our Advisory Panel, which provides expert advice and reviews programs and projects.

As we move forward, we will continue to find opportunities to engage and share benefits with First Nations Peoples through our role in the clean energy transition. Our goal is to continue partnerships that build equity, justice and a cleaner, greener Australia for all.

Have a nice week NAIDOC.