To help a First Nations community in Blackstone move away from high-cost diesel generation Horizon Power is delivering a state-of-the-art renewable energy microgrid, backed by investments from both the Federal and the Western Australian governments.
Situated near the South Australian and Northern Territory borders, Blackstone (Papulankutja) has been selected as a pilot community to test a scalable, modular hybrid energy solution and, if successful, can be used as a blueprint to assist the future design for other, similar sized remote Aboriginal communities.
In addition to the $3.6 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) through its Regional Microgrids Program, the Western Australian Government has committed $9.12 million to Horizon Power for this project.
In response to the announcement of the Western Australian Government’s investment in this project, Horizon Power Acting CEO, Krystal Skinner, said “today marks a significant milestone for Horizon Power’s Remote Communities program and reflects our strong commitment to energy equity for Aboriginal people living in remote communities across Western Australia.”
“We are proud to support the clean energy transition in partnership with First Nations people – grounded in respect, shared decision-making, and empowerment.”
“I am proud this initiative will not only deliver safer, more reliable power but also will be reinvesting back into the community – building long-term capability and creating broader economic opportunities into the future.”
Funded under ARENA’s First Nations Community Microgrids Stream, the project will reduce reliance on diesel, lower carbon emissions with a hybrid renewable energy solution, reinvest cost savings into other community infrastructure and focus on long-term capacity building.
The Blackstone Hybrid Energy Project will consist of up to 778kW of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, a 2MWh battery energy storage system and 400kW of diesel generation, not only providing cleaner and more reliable energy, but also supporting the community’s long-term resilience and sustainability.
Horizon Power will also establish a Community Energy Fund, which will share savings from the project to support community-nominated energy initiatives and return financial benefits directly to the community. The utility will also roll out a training program to develop local skills for ongoing operations and maintenance of the microgrid, creating employment opportunities within the Papulankutja community.
ARENA CEO, Darren Miller, said Horizon Power’s project is a significant step towards providing cleaner and more reliable energy to remote First Nations communities.
“The Blackstone Hybrid Energy Project demonstrates that renewable energy development and community empowerment can go hand in hand, delivering not only clean, reliable power, but also long-term social and economic benefits for remote communities.”
“The success of this project could serve as a blueprint for delivering accessible, affordable and clean energy to other remote First Nations communities.”
Ngaanyatjarra Council Group CEO, Thomas Williams, said, “NCG is proud to support this transformative project, which aligns perfectly with our broader sustainability goals of reducing emissions and empowering our communities with reliable, clean energy.”
“By transitioning Papulankutja from diesel to a renewable microgrid, we will cut carbon emissions and energy costs and reinvest in the community through local training and jobs, creating a sustainable model that will benefit our people for future generations.”
By deploying cutting-edge technology backed by meaningful community engagement and participation, Horizon Power said the project aims to demonstrate how clean, reliable energy systems can be delivered in remote areas. It also highlights the importance of community engagement, capacity building, and local leadership in achieving lasting outcomes.
ARENA’s Regional Microgrid Program was established in response to changes to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, which introduced new standards for the delivery of essential services.
The Program includes $125 million in funding to develop and deploy microgrid technologies in regional and remote communities, with $75 million specifically allocated to support microgrid projects in First Nations communities.
ARENA is embedding First Nations inclusion across its operations and funding programs. In 2024, eight First Nations people were appointed as assessors and advisors to the ARENA Advisory Panel, bringing lived experience and cultural knowledge into project evaluation. ARENA has also expanded merit criteria in key funding programs to better reflect First Nations engagement, inclusion, and benefit-sharing.
In its 2025 Statement of Intent, the ARENA Board affirmed the importance of empowering First Nations peoples to benefit from the energy transition through self-determined initiatives, guided by best-practice engagement principles. These principles are at the core of the Regional Microgrid Program.
ARENA said its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) will be published shortly, a formal commitment to reconciliation and to enabling First Nations communities to thrive through the energy transition.
