Original Power works with First Nations communities across the Northern Territory to harness the transformative potential of the clean energy transition in our regions.
The Ngardara ‘Sun’ Project in Borroloola is a collaboration between Australia’s first Indigenous clean energy co-op, Ngardara Co-operative, and Original Power to design and build their own grid-connected utility scale solar microgrid. The project will cut local energy costs and reduce reliance on the town’s ageing and polluting diesel generators, providing a replicable model for community ownership of power generation assets that can be shared with other communities seeking to benefit from and expand the reach of the clean energy revolution.
Gadrian Hoosan, Garrwa leader and key driver of the ground-breaking community-led Ngardara ‘Sun’ Project in Borroloola says:
“Solar power offers the chance for our people to live and work on country, create good jobs for our young people and help our communities better prepare for climate change impacts.”
For decades Borroloola residents have lived with chronic energy poverty, paying high costs on pre-paid power cards and experiencing regular electricity disconnections that spoil food and medicine, and leave homes too hot to live in.
“We want to see the future of our region powered by the sun, with cheap, clean and reliable power for every household and business in Borroloola. Clean energy gives us hope for the future of our community, and that’s worth fighting for.’
Keep up to date on the progress of the Ngardara project on the Co-op’s website and find out how your community can be part of the Territory’s clean energy plan.
Update on the Borroloola solar homelands project, 2023
In the News:
Groundbreaking First Nations’ Solar Microgrid Project secures catalytic ARENA Funding: Project to launch mid-2026
The Borroloola community’s Ngardara Solar Microgrid project in the Northern Territory has achieved a major milestone with the awarding of $8.347M in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency Regional Microgrid Program’s First Nations’ stream today.
The grant funding also helps unlock access to private and philanthropic investment, placing the project on track to achieve financial close by mid 2026 with construction commencement targeted to begin in September.
An Australian-first, the microgrid project is an innovative model of utility-scale and First Nations’ community-owned renewable energy, with design and development co-led by First Nations’ renewable energy developer Original Power with the Borroloola community’s Ngardara Cooperative as majority owner.
