As Australia accelerates its transition toward a net-zero grid, a new report warns that Australia’s current approach to regional engagement is falling short.
The Community Power Agency recently released Power in Partnership: A guide to developing a community stake in renewable energy, a resource aimed at shifting the industry standard from mere consultation to genuine financial partnership.
Based on 18 months of research involving developers, governments, and local advocates, the guide argues that the traditional model of information-sharing and one-off benefit funds is no longer sufficient.
To avoid local conflict and ensure a fast and fair transition, the report suggests that host communities must be offered a real seat at the table through models such as co-ownership, co-investment, and subscription programs.
While Australia has historically focused on community engagement as a communication exercise, the guide highlights Denmark, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Netherlands as nations that have already enshrined community co-ownership into policy.
“Australia has done little to enable communities to participate meaningfully in the renewable energy rollout,” said lead author Dr Anna Berka.
Given the scale of additional renewable capacity needed by 2030, now is the time.
“The shift to renewable energy is happening at scale in regional Australia. Done well, community partnership models can deliver significant regional development benefits, strengthen local economies and build the social support needed to transform our energy system.”
The report identifies that when locals have a financial stake, projects transform from external impositions into shared local assets. This approach not only strengthens regional economies by creating long-term income streams but also builds the social licence required for large-scale infrastructure.
Gavin Brown, CEO of Yamagigu Consulting, highlighted the success of the Bulabul battery partnership as a blueprint for First Nations involvement.
“For us, equity is about having a real stake in projects on Country,” Brown noted.
“We have proven now that virtually any community and proponent can do this in a way that is commercially beneficial for both parties.”
Manager of Consumer Advocacy at Energy Consumers Australia, Justin Whelan, stated that genuine partnership is the only way to ensure energy projects work for the community as much as they do for the developer.
“Approaches like community co-ownership and co-investment can help turn engagement into genuine partnership, giving communities a meaningful stake in renewable energy projects and a share in the benefits,” Whelan said.
By providing a practical roadmap for investors and policymakers, the Power in Partnership guide seeks to embed these models into the mainstream, ensuring that the infrastructure of the future delivers more than just clean power – it delivers a fairer economic deal for the regions hosting it.