Pilbara Solar, a 50% Aboriginal-controlled startup business and recognised social enterprise, has received an Offer to Connect for the Junja Solar Farm to deliver power to Horizon Power's coastal network.
"This is the final milestone in developing our first renewable energy project, a 10MW solar farm on our community land at Jinparinya near Port Hedland," said Barry Taylor, spokesperson for the Jinparinya Community.
"Income earned from he project will be put back into the community for social and housing programs," Mr Taylor said. "The benefits of this project include 5% free carry ownership; the chance to increase our ownership with financing; annual lease payments; payment of community energy bills; civil works contracted to Cundaline Resources which is a business owned by our community members," Mr Taylor said.
The project will be funded by approximately $30 million of private investment. It is fully aligned with the WA government's Pilbara Energy Plan and its decarbonisation commitment to implement a "rapid, orderly and equitable transition".
As well as socially innovative the project has significant technical and regulatory ambitions. It will be the first renewable Independent Power Plant connected to the Pilbara Network, and the preliminary engineering design includes the first solar tracking array in the Pilbara coastal region which experiences the most severe cyclones in Australia.
Doris Eaton, Nyamal Elder and Pilbara Solar Director said the solar farm provides First Nations people with benefits, including employment for mechanical and electrical works being offered firstly to community members and businesses; free rooftop solar for selected community buildings; sports team sponsorship; rolling apprenticeships and administrative and maintenance jobs for community members throughout the 20+ year lifespan of the project.
"Junja means sunshine and this will be the first renewable energy project in the Pilbara with First Nations equity share," Mrs Eaton said.
"The project is development approved, has land security with sublease registered with Landgate; all environmental, vegetation clearing, heritage, native title and other approvals have been obtained. The project is shovel-ready and open for business. We are ready to sell our green energy to Pilbara businesses," she said.
Thudgari man and Pilbara Solar Director, Mr Windie said the project will have a long-lasting impact for the local people.
"We are so proud of this project. It will bring an estimated $9 million of benefits to First Nations communities, including the Jinparinya Aboriginal Corporation which is the community residing on Country, and the Wanparta Aboriginal Corporation representing the Ngarla traditional owners."
Junja Solar Farm is an exemplary learn-by-doing project for the Pilbara energy industries and customers to start the clean energy transition. It is a significant step forward for economic empowerment of First Nations people and for the energy transition in the Pilbara.
Pilbara Solar was founded seven years ago with a message of First Nations equity share for communities, starting a movement in that direction across the clean energy sector especially in WA. The Junja Solar Farm has taken five years to be "shovel ready" but it remains the most advanced project in the Pilbara developed in partnership with First Nations communities.
