The Aboriginal land council estate presents a significant opportunity for the NSW Government to achieve its renewable energy targets. Across New South Wales (NSW), there is huge potential for Aboriginal land to be part of rapid renewable energy development. Local Aboriginal Land Councils (Aboriginal land councils) control most of the Aboriginal land estate in NSW, but much of the land estate is remote and difficult to service with existing power networks. Many land councils express increasing interest in hosting energy projects on their lands to achieve a range of social and economic outcomes.

This report outlines a range of practical steps that the NSW Government could take to support land councils in bolstering renewable energy projects across various settings.

Policy opportunities

• Increase resources and build capacity for land councils to manage clean energy opportunities and risks on their landholdings.
• Enable microgrid collaborations with Electricity Networks and land councils.
• Enable development of mid- and large-scale renewable energy projects.
• Strengthen Aboriginal rights recognition to unlock the renewable energy potential of Aboriginal land.