Federal government grant monies are now available for First Nations communities, organisations and groups for advice and engagement on planning, negotiating or pursuing clean energy projects in homes, communities and on Country.

The grants are made available as part of implementing the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy 2024-2030 – a commitment by all energy ministers in Australia to ensure First Nations communities are powered with clean energy, enabled in equitable partnerships, and are achieving economic benefits. 

Australia’s clean energy transition is accelerating, but First Nations participation and benefit continues to lag behind the pace and scale of change.

Since the First Nations Clean Energy Network’s 2024–25 Pre‑Budget Submission, the Commonwealth has released the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy (2024–2030) and committed $70 million to its implementation.

While welcome, this funding is wholly inadequate when set against the Strategy’s intent and ambition, the scale of infrastructure being developed on First Nations land and waters, and the economic, social and energy security outcomes at stake. 

First Nations households continue to experience some of the highest energy costs, poorest housing quality and lowest levels of energy security in the country. First Nations organisations remain under‑resourced to be able to engage with, consent to, invest in and benefit from large‑scale clean energy infrastructure. Critically, there is still no adequately funded, national program to deliver solar, batteries and climate‑resilient retrofits at scale for First Nations housing. 

The gap between policy intent and delivery is widening. Without decisive fiscal intervention, the Strategy risks becoming aspirational rather than transformational. 

This 2026-27 Pre-Budget Submission updates and re‑states the Network’s core budget priorities which were clearly set out in our 2024-25 Pre-Budget Submission. They include:

1. Recommendation 1: Invest in First Nations housing energy efficiency, household electrification, and solar and battery systems to reduce costs of living and improve household wellbeing
2. Recommendation 2: Invest in First Nations-led community energy and diesel reduction initiatives for improved climate resilience, emissions reduction and energy reliability
3. Recommendation 3: Invest in First Nations people, organisations and ideas to improve capacity and capability, and provide access to capital for First Nations clean energy project leadership to de-risk and add value to Australia’s clean energy transition ambition.

Many of the Network’s previous recommendations remain unchanged because the underlying structural barriers remain unresolved.

The clean energy transition cannot proceed at the speed and scale required without properly resourcing First Nations communities, organisations and households as energy participants, owners and decision‑makers. 

Read our submission

'Respect and courtesy aren’t enough. We also need to engage in ongoing practical reconciliation and the drive to eradicate Indigenous disadvantage. To me, the energy transformation is one of our best, if not the best, opportunity to do just that.'

There’s lots of finance and funding opportunities to action your clean energy journey — and many are closing soon. Get in quick!!

The Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation have published a comprehensive guide to assist First Nations understand, participate, and lead in the renewables and clean energy sector.

There’s lots of new funding opportunities available for First Nations people on our 'Finance and Funding Opportunities’ webpage.

We’re tracking grants and funding opportunities available to assist First Nations households, communities and businesses transition to clean energy solutions in each State and Territory and Australia-wide. There’s a few closing soon so get in quick!

We've tracked a number of financial grants that may be able to assist First Nations households, communities and businesses transition to renewable energy. 

Several Australian organisations including the First Nations Clean Energy Network have bandied together to lobby the Federal Government to commit to $100 billion investment in clean energy.

A review of Federal and State government approaches to transmission reveals inconsistency and a lack of accountability for ensuring commitments to First Nations outcomes.