Research report series· June 2026· National edition + six state & territory editions

Sharing the upside.

Equity and revenue-sharing models for First Nations communities in Australia's clean energy transition. The policy landscape, the commercial models, the Australian and international evidence, and a practical framework for designing arrangements that hold.

~43%
of Australia's future clean energy infrastructure is expected to sit on or near First Nations Country.
<1%
of utility-scale projects currently include First Nations equity — and none have progressed beyond development.
25–30 yrs
the operating life of the assets being negotiated now. Equity is agreed once, early — or not at all.
About this report

From participation to ownership.

Australia is building one of the largest clean energy systems in its history, and a remarkable share of it will sit on First Nations land. Yet ownership has not followed. Current frameworks count jobs, training and procurement — important, but downstream. This report examines how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities can move beyond participation to genuine ownership, through equity stakes, revenue-sharing and community-controlled funds. It is written for government and public-sector teams shaping renewable energy zones, for developers seeking durable community partnerships, and for First Nations organisations weighing their options.

01The opportunity, and the gap
02The policy landscape
03The models: a practical taxonomy
04Australian case studies
05What the world has learned
06What stands in the way
07What would unlock it in Australia
08A framework for getting it right
09Implications across the jurisdictions
+Glossary, references and sources

Want a look before you buy? Download the free executive summary (PDF) — the cover, contents and key findings, ready to share with your team.

What it concludes

Four findings that matter.

The opportunity is large — and time-sensitive.

Equity is negotiated once, early, when projects seek land access and approvals. Communities that are not ready miss the window for a generation.

The models exist and are proven elsewhere.

Joint-venture equity, revenue-sharing, community benefit trusts, co-ownership and hybrids each suit different circumstances. The choice is a design problem, not a question of feasibility.

Capital access is the binding constraint.

Without a loan-guarantee or concessional-finance mechanism, most communities cannot fund an equity stake — regardless of willingness on either side.

Government can move the market.

Embedding equity expectations in renewable energy zone access, and standing up an Australian capital-access vehicle, would do more than any number of participation targets.

Editions & pricing

Choose your edition.

State & territory editions · Available now

Your jurisdiction, in focus.

The national evidence base, tailored to one jurisdiction: renewable energy zone and project frameworks, state policy settings, and what the findings mean for local agencies, developers and communities. Six editions, each acknowledging the Nations on whose Country the projects of that jurisdiction are being built.

A$7,500
Excl. GST · Per edition · Single-organisation licence
  • 21-page jurisdiction-specific PDF, June 2026 edition
  • State-specific policy, REZ and project analysis, drawn from the full national research base
  • Delivered by email with tax invoice within one business day

How purchasing works. Prices exclude GST. Email us at info@nuvantasolutions.com.au with your organisation and billing details — purchase order references welcome — and we'll send a tax invoice (payable by EFT). On payment, the report is delivered as a PDF by email within one business day, licensed for use within the purchasing organisation. Purchasing the national edition together with a state edition, or need a commissioned edition for your agency or portfolio? Talk to us.