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

June 30, 2025
Australian module manufacturer Tindo Solar has secured a 30MW solar module supply agreement to power Australia's first "net zero pipeline”.
June 26, 2025
PV solar cell manufacturer Halocell Energy has launched its first perovskite-based product called the Halocell Ambient Modules.
June 25, 2025
JinkoSolar has submitted a 133.76MWc solar-plus-storage project in New South Wales to the federal government under the EPBC Act.
June 25, 2025
Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) achieved a new record high for solar PV and wind generation at 12,463MW.
June 25, 2025
The New South Wales government has earmarked AU$2.1 billion (US$1.36 billion) for transmission infrastructure to connect its Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) and support utility-scale renewable and energy storage projects.
June 24, 2025
Western Australia’s Lithium Universe has secured the commercial rights for a solar PV module recycling technology known as Microwave Joule Heating Technology (MJHT).

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
July 2, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico