ARENA unveils new funding to build microgrids for First Nations in Australia

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
AU$75 million will be used to develop microgrid projects in First Nations communities. Image: iStock

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has unveiled a new round of funding to develop and deploy microgrid technologies across regional and remote communities, including a major of it allocated for microgrid projects in First Nations communities.

ARENA said it would allocate AU$125 million (US$48.2 million) to the Regional Microgrids Programme, with AU$75 million being used to develop microgrid projects in First Nations communities, delivering cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy and empowering First Nations communities to participate in their electricity supply arrangements and the development of energy infrastructure.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Currently, electricity provision in remote First Nations communities is often heavily reliant on diesel. ARENA said the new funding will help overcome barriers to broader deployment of microgrid solutions.

“It’s vital we make sure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in remote communities are able to participate in the electricity transition and share in the benefits of Australia’s renewable future,” said Darren Miller, CEO of ARENA.

ARENA said the funding follows amendments to the National Agreement for Closing the Gap to include new standards for the provision of essential services.

The programme of developing microgrid projects in First Nations communities also incorporates ARENA’s previous AU$50 million Regional Australia Microgrid Pilots Programme (RAMPP), bringing the total of the Regional Microgrids Programme funding pool to AU$125 million across both streams. Microgrid projects under the stream will be developed in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, First Nations renewable energy experts and state and territory governments across Australia.

Applications are open now and will be assessed in two stages, with initial expressions of interest followed by full applications. The programme will run until December 2025 or until the funds are exhausted.

Read Next

May 20, 2025
Octopus Australia has received grid connection approval from AEMO for a 300MW solar-plus-storage site in New South Wales.
May 20, 2025
Australia’s Victoria government has proposed seven REZ for the state, emphasising these will help achieve its target of 2.7GW of utility-scale solar PV generation by 2040.
May 19, 2025
Swedish solar developer OX2 has received development consent from the New South Wales government in Australia for a 90MW solar-plus-storage project.
May 19, 2025
New data released by Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has noted that 553MW of capacity was approved in the NEM in April.
May 15, 2025
GCL Tech has received an environmental accreditation for a manufacturing facility, while Redsolar and CMEC-GL have announced new projects.
Premium
May 14, 2025
As the University of Queensland take the first steps towards commercialising a tin halide perovskite solar cell concept, George Heynes explores the development of the technology.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
May 21, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 8, 2025
Asia