New grants back First Nations-led clean energy decisions with funding for independent advice

First Nations communities weighing up renewable energy projects will be able to apply for new funding designed to pay for independent technical and professional advice, as governments and industry grapple with how to expand clean energy without repeating the harms of past development.

The Australian Government’s First Nations Clean Energy Advice Grants have opened for applications, with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) describing the initiative as part of a broader First Nations Clean Energy Strategy. DCCEEW says the government is investing $39.455 million over three years, with the grants to be delivered in two rounds.

Under the first round, grants of between $5,000 and $80,000 are available to First Nations organisations and groups. The department says funding can be used for training, planning and professional advice, with the stated aim of building skills, confidence and knowledge so communities can participate in clean energy development on their own terms.

A central principle is Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). Business.gov.au says the program is intended to support communities to access technical and professional support and make informed decisions consistent with FPIC – a framework that emphasises community-led decision-making before major projects proceed.

In regional energy circles, the announcement is being framed as a practical response to a familiar problem: communities are often asked to respond to complex proposals with limited time, information and resourcing. Writing on Friday, Hunter New Energy said the funding could help First Nations communities obtain the expert advice needed to properly assess potential projects, adding that round one projects must be completed by 31 March 2028 and be located in Australia.

The First Nations Clean Energy Network has also highlighted the advice grants in its national funding information, listing round one as open and noting a September closing date.

The program arrives as renewable energy build-out accelerates across Australia, including transmission upgrades, large-scale solar and wind developments and new storage proposals. For many Traditional Owner groups, that growth is creating opportunities for jobs, ownership and partnerships – but also raising questions about land access, cultural heritage protections, benefit-sharing and who controls decision-making.

By funding independent advice up front, the grants are designed to shift the balance of power towards communities – helping them ask better questions, negotiate stronger agreements and decide, where necessary, that a project is not right for Country.