For years, Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation (DAC), which serves an Aboriginal community in WA's Kimberley region, has relied on Horizon Power's diesel generators.

Now it wants to flip the model by building and owning a solar farm which would supply most of the community's electricity while selling power back into the grid.

The Aalga Goolil "Sun Turtle" project is designed to meet about 80 per cent of the energy needs of Djarindjin and neighbouring Aboriginal community Lombadina.

The rest would come from Horizon Power's upgraded diesel plant, which sits beside the land earmarked for the new solar station.

What makes the project unusual is ownership.

The community plans to build, run and maintain the facility, selling wholesale power into the grid under a purchase agreement.

Chief executive Nathan McIvor said the principle was simple - the community wanted to be treated like any other generator.

"We want to be the seller of renewable energy, and for Horizon Power to put it through their infrastructure," he said.

"Our assets will be the solar farm itself."

Profits would be reinvested into housing, jobs and services for local families.

Leaders describe it as a way to build generational wealth and reduce dependence on government funding.

Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation, already the largest Aboriginal employer on the Dampier Peninsula, has committed $1 million of its own funds and secured a conditional $5 million government grant.

It has also hired engineering, legal and financial advisers, arguing the project shows the community has the capacity — and the appetite — to manage a renewable energy power station.

"We're taking all the risk, putting up the front-end costs, and showing real community buy-in," Mr McIvor said.

"We're taking the lead here, not being told or to accept second or third best."

Negotiations with state-owned Horizon Power are continuing.

A Horizon Power spokesperson said the enterprise is committed to working collaboratively with Aboriginal Community Corporations to support sustainable and community-driven energy projects.

"Horizon Power routinely engages with proponents in relation to these opportunities," the spokesperson said.

This engagement occurs on a confidential basis for commercial reasons.

Horizon Power's approach underscores the complexity of breaking new ground in community-led power generation.

"Nothing was ever achieved without doing the hard thing," Mr McIvor said.

"For Horizon Power, doing this with us has also been challenging but they have remained willing to do the hard thing."

The project is being framed as more than a clean energy investment.

DAC director Andrew Sampi said it offers a tangible way to tackle entrenched inequality.

"We hear all the time on the news about governments not meeting their Closing the Gap targets," Mr Sampi said.

"This is a project that could actually close the gap."

Chairman Brian Lee said it was about putting words into action.

"We believe in self-determination, we are practising that, we are doing that, and we believe we are in the best position to demonstrate self-determination for our community and our people," Mr Lee said.

Mr McIvor believes the model could be replicated in other remote towns, showing Aboriginal corporations can generate their own power, cut diesel use and channel profits back into local priorities.

"It's the first of its kind for a remote Aboriginal community in WA," he said.

"It will support the economic independence of the DAC, and is an example of self-determination at work.

"We don't want a hand-out, we want a hand-up."

The Sun Turtle project is central to DAC's goal of sourcing 82 per cent of its power from renewables by 2030, demonstrating the community's commitment to delivering on WA's energy transition.