The Capacity Investment Scheme is creating new opportunities for First Nations equity participation and revenue sharing in renewable energy and storage projects.

The Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) is the Australian Government's flagship investment mechanism for supporting new renewable energy and storage projects. It provides long-term revenue support to reduce project risk and encourage private investment in the clean energy transition.

Under the Capacity Investment Scheme, successful projects enter into a Capacity Investment Scheme Agreement (CISA) with the Australian Government. A Capacity Investment Scheme Agreement provides long-term revenue support by establishing a revenue floor and ceiling for a project, helping to reduce revenue risk and encourage investment in renewable energy and storage infrastructure.

First Nations set aside

In 2026, the Australian Government has established dedicated First Nations Set Asides in both Tender 9 (renewable generation) and Tender 10 (dispatchable capacity and battery storage) of the Capacity Investment Scheme.

Together, these Set Asides reserve project capacity for clean energy developments where proponents commit to genuine First Nations equity participation and/or revenue-sharing arrangements.

Fact sheet

We have developed a fact sheet explaining how the First Nations Set Asides work, why they matter, what they could mean for First Nations communities and organisations, and what support is available.

Read our Fact Sheet

Webinar recording

Thank you to everyone who registered for and joined our Capacity Investment Scheme - First Nations Set Aside webinar held on 24 June 2026.

For those who couldn't make it live, or want to revisit the discussion, the full recording is available here. 

We were joined by a fantastic panel covering policy, developer, finance and community perspectives:

• Mike Masters (Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water) on the policy context for the CIS and why the First Nations Set Aside was introduced.
• Ernie Turner (ASL) on how bids are assessed against the tender qualification criteria.
• Gavin Brown (Wambal Bila) on Wambal Bila’s equity partnership journey with AMPYR Energy.
• Will Storey (AMPYR Energy) on the developer's perspective on engagement and partnership.
• Simone Jordan (Wollotuka Institute, Awabakal Land Council) on becoming negotiation-ready as a community.
• Chris Croker (First Nations Clean Energy Network Steering Committee) on accessing capital and lessons from international jurisdictions.
• Greg Ellis (Indigenous Business Australia) on how IBA supports communities to assess and pursue investment opportunities.

Key takeaways from the webinar included:

• Relationships are key, and starting them early gives communities and proponents the best chance of reaching a genuine partnership.
• Free, prior and informed consent depends on open, honest information-sharing throughout a project's life, not just at the start.
• You don't know what you don't know. Communities are encouraged to ask the hard questions of proponents, even if they feel new to this space.
• Equity is achievable. Wambal Bila’s partnership with AMPYR shows what's possible when trust and transparency are built from day one.
• Capital and advice gaps remain real barriers but a growing ecosystem of advisory grants and emerging concessional finance (and grant) options are there to help close them.

A few key points on the Set Aside

A First Nations Set Aside now applies to both CIS Tender 9 (500MW within a 5GW renewable generation tender) and CIS Tender 10 (500MW/2GWh within a 4GW/16GWh dispatchable capacity tender), meaning equity and revenue-sharing opportunities now extend to battery and storage projects too.

To qualify, proponents must commit to an equity and/or revenue-sharing arrangement equivalent to at least a 5% economic interest with eligible First Nations organisations.

First Nations Clean Energy Advice Grants ($5,000–$80,000) are open now to help cover legal, financial, governance and commercial advice. Apply via business.gov.au.

With bids into CIS Tender 9 closing on 20 July 2026, First Nations communities and organisations can seize the opportunity the Set Aside creates, and for proponents to start those relationships.

Learn more on our From Commitment to Delivery page on our website.  

Need assistance?

If you have any questions, or queries related to the CIS, please don't hesitate to contact us here.