The Western Australian and Commonwealth governments have delivered more than $185,000 in energy-saving credits to households across the Kimberley, strengthening cleaner, more reliable and lower-cost energy access for remote First Nations communities.
The milestone reflects the growing reach of Horizon Power’s Kimberley Communities Solar Saver (KCSS) program, which takes a community-based approach to rooftop solar for households that cannot afford individual installations.
Under the model, solar panels are installed across selected homes with credits shared among the broader community, an arrangement now benefiting approximately 435 households across five communities, saving around $450 per household each year.
The program began in Warmun in June 2024 with the installation of 0.42 megawatts of rooftop solar, reducing reliance on high-cost diesel generation and cutting electricity costs for approximately 80 homes with pre-paid meters.
It has since expanded to Bidyadanga, Ardyaloon, Yungngora and Beagle Bay, bringing the total installed capacity to 1.38 megawatts across approximately 125 systems.
A sixth community, Mowanjum, is due to join the program later this year.
The KCSS is delivered through the $10.56 million Community Solar Banks partnership between the state and federal governments, an initiative designed to extend the benefits of the national energy transition to Australians in even the most remote locations.
Commonwealth Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson said the program was making renewable energy accessible to communities long dependent on expensive diesel power.
“By harnessing the world’s best sunshine resources to reduce the reliance on increasingly expensive diesel, the Albanese government’s Community Solar Banks shared-solar program is cutting power bills and increasing the energy security of remote Kimberley communities,” Minister Wilson said.
“As the energy transition accelerates and renewables start to outpace fossil fuel generation, we are making sure that the shift is equitable and accessible to all Australians no matter their postcode.”
WA Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson echoed that commitment, emphasising the state government’s focus on ensuring remote communities are not left behind.
“The Cook Labor government is committed to delivering the energy transition in some of the most remote corners of the country,” Minister Sanderson said.
“Through the Kimberley Communities Solar Saver, households that have traditionally been unable to access rooftop solar are seeing real benefits, with cleaner, more affordable and more reliable power.”
Horizon Power Chief Executive Officer Krystal Skinner said the program’s expansion to a sixth community marked another significant step forward and highlighted the importance of community partnership in its design and delivery.
“The Kimberley Communities Solar Saver program is delivering practical benefits for households that have historically been unable to access rooftop solar,” Skinner said.
“We are pleased KCSS is rolling out to a sixth community, enabling more residents to benefit from rooftop solar, delivering lower energy bills and cleaner, local power supply.
“Our approach is based on sustained engagement with community leaders and Traditional Owners to ensure energy solutions meet local needs and improve long-term reliability.”
The KCSS program represents a broader push to ensure Australia’s energy transformation reaches beyond urban centres, with shared solar models offering a practical pathway for remote and Indigenous communities to participate in (and benefit from) the shift to renewables.