Indigenous clean energy leaders hope its webinar later this month will show how small Aboriginal communities can negotiate renewables solutions for more affordable power.

The Point Pearce Aboriginal community in the Yorke Peninsula, 194 kilometres north-west of Adelaide, recently landed a rooftop solar and battery deal for approximately 40 households, in partnership with local provider AGL.

Negotiations with the electricity retailer were led by Point Pearce Aboriginal Corporation chairperson Eddie Newchurch, who helped develop the plan for 6-7 kilowatts of rooftop solar and a 10-kilowatt-hour battery to be installed in the community by mid-2026.

The installation of solar power in a few months was set to save households up to $1000-$2000 a year on energy costs.

The upcoming webinar on April 16, hosted by First Nations Clean Energy Network, would demonstrate there was a successful template for other communities to follow, by engaging local utilities to develop solar solutions.

Through Mr Newchurch, AGL collaborated with Point Pearce residents to identify their energy needs and design an affordable solution for the small community.

The Narungga man, part of the FNCEN's Powermakers program, said his town's renewable energy development came to fruition after a phone call with AGL agent Jo Maddin about a wind, farm and battery project in Barn Hill in South Australia's mid-north region.

"Jo rang and told me about the Barn Hill project," he said.

"I said 'alright, let's have a yarn about solar'."

After discussions with Mr Newchurch, AGL agreed to install and fund solar on every home in the community to help reduce electricity bills.

FNCEN's local state coordinator Glen Wingfield said the rooftop solar solution showed communities could lead negotiations with local energy providers.

"Sometimes they just don't know where to start," he said.

AGL head of corporate finance Jason Layatt said 6 to 7 kilowatts of solar would be installed on dozens of homes in Point Pearce.

"There's about 40 households, so 440 systems and, in addition to that, a 10 kilowatt hour solar battery to support their energy generation and energy usage," he said.

"This translates to approximately $1000 to $2000 a year in electricity cost savings for a typical South Australian household"

Narungga Elder Rex Angie said every remote town needed energy and he was happy with Point Pearce's deal.

"We need energy so we can live. People are going to live in houses and they need power," he said.

The First Nations Clean Energy Network urged First Nations, industry, government and any other stakeholder wanting to understand how community-led negotiations could deliver affordable, reliable and clean energy for mob, to register online for the April 16 webinar.

Webinar details

Thursday 16 April 2026, 12:30-1:30pm (SA time).

Speakers: Eddie Newchurch, Point Pearce Aboriginal Community chairperson; and David Russell, AGL (SA & Queensland) stakeholder engagement senior manager.

Webinar Zoom details are provided on registration.

More information on the webinar is available via events@firstnationscleanenergy.org.au.