One way First Nations can participate in and benefit economically from clean energy is to own equity in projects. Our new guide is designed to support First Nations communities review their participation in clean energy projects.

Our new guide First Nations Co-ownership and Equity Participation in Clean Energy Projects highlights the benefits of First Nations engagement in a clean energy project.

It provides an overview of equity, and what equity participation involves, and looks at the potential risks and benefits for First Nations groups seeking to hold equity in projects.

It also unpacks different forms of equity participation for First Nations considering co-investing in clean energy projects with developers.

The guide is being launched at the World Renewable Energy Congress on Tuesday 10 February in Perth, Western Australia.

Why the guide is important

First Nations aim to share in development planning and benefit directly in the prosperity of energy projects through co-ownership, equity stakes, and revenue sharing. 

Equity participation is a means to proactively exercise rights, protect community interests, ensure control and a seat at the table, and to share the economic benefits derived from a project for the benefit of communities for generations to come.

For Australia to transition to clean energy, access is required to large areas of land and waters, including for new transmission infrastructure and access to critical minerals and other resources — all of which are on land and waters where First Nations have rights and interests.

And while there is an urgency to scale up clean energy, we need to ensure the transition is done the right way, with pace and with justice, ensuring no one is left behind. 

First Nations must participate in and achieve mutual benefits from the transition

Clean energy represents a radically different opportunity for ownership of energy resources and for First Nations-led proposals. There is great potential for large-scale projects to be done differently.

Internationally, we’re seeing First Nations become significant asset owners of clean energy infrastructure backed by substantial government funding.

Indigenous communities are the second largest clean energy asset owners and partners in Canada with thousands of small-large scale projects underway and ongoing. 

These projects have led to community training and job creation, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, advanced gender equity, materially improved economic stability, cultural revitalisation and much more.

With our work reforming policy and informing the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy, there’s now a clear national focus in Australia on equity arrangements for First Nations groups in the clean energy transition, including through plans the Federal Government is developing for a Capacity Investment Scheme ‘First Nations set aside’ tender in 2026. 

We’re tracking proponents engagement, benefit sharing and equity commitments in Capacity Investment Scheme projects awarded (see From Commitment to Delivery) with four projects negotiating equity with First Nations groups impacted to-date.

And we're also tracking First Nations equity participation in clean energy development in Australia. There are now 30 and counting First Nations clean energy equity partnerships, some that are community-led, and many yet to be operational.

Compared to the huge number of clean energy projects being developed across the country, there is obviously more work to be done to ensure First Nations participation and co-ownership.

Focusing on investors and developers, we designed our Building Capacity of Proponents toolkit to ‘reset the standard’, equipping proponents, investors and governments with clear, practical guidance to engage First Nations from the outset on equal terms – where engagement isn't a compliance step but a foundational business and risk-management strategy: early, meaningful First Nations engagement helps de-risk projects, improve investor certainty, and strengthen social licence. 

We also released a significant report, Investor Benefits of First Nations Participation in Clean Energy Projects, which clearly shows that First Nations ownership strengthens social licence, investor confidence, and project performance - and reduces risk, cost and delay.

First Nations co-ownership and equity participation in clean energy projects

Our new guide First Nations Co-ownership and Equity Participation in Clean Energy Projects is for First Nations people and groups.

It aims to further build our communities’ knowledge of equity and co-ownership models, from joint ventures to unit trusts — and strengthen further our confidence to negotiate strong co-ownership agreements with proponents and governments.

This guide supplements the Network’s other toolkits, including:

• Best Practice Principles for Clean Energy Projects
• Clean Energy Negotiations Guide for First Nations
• Community Energy Planning Toolkit for First Nations
• Renewable Energy Project Development: What’s involved?

Download the guide