The Western Australian Government has committed $27 million to Horizon Power's ReGen program, funding the delivery of standalone power systems to 21 of the state's most isolated Aboriginal communities. The investment will see 13 systems delivered immediately and planning and procurement commence for a further eight communities.
What's being built
Each standalone power system (SPS) combines solar panels, battery energy storage and a backup diesel generator into a self-contained power solution customised for the energy needs of each community. The systems are designed to deliver a minimum of 70% renewable energy, with the diesel generator activating automatically only when solar generation and battery reserves are insufficient.
Cockatoo Springs (Ngunulum), approximately 30 kilometres south of Kununurra, is one of the first communities to receive its upgraded system. The new SPS includes 20 kW of solar generation and a 100 kWh battery. Since completion in July 2025, renewable energy has provided 63% of the community's power needs, with diesel consumption expected to drop by approximately 35,000 litres annually — cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 91 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
Chile Creek on the Dampier Peninsula has also received upgrades, with a new 16 kW solar and 50 kWh battery system installed alongside a 30 kW diesel generator.
Building on Renew the Regions
The ReGen program builds on Horizon Power's $75 million Renew the Regions initiative, which has already delivered 50 standalone power systems, rooftop solar on more than 30 schools, and over 1,200 battery modules across regional WA. That earlier program created more than 100 jobs, including 20 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander positions and 14 traineeships.
Horizon Power assumed responsibility for power supply to 117 remote Aboriginal communities from the Department of Communities in July 2023. The ReGen program represents the next phase of investment in upgrading those communities' energy infrastructure from ageing diesel-only systems to modern hybrid renewable solutions.
What this means for Kimberley communities
The ReGen program is delivering real infrastructure to real communities — but it is Horizon Power's program, not a competitive grant. Communities are selected based on Horizon Power's infrastructure planning priorities, not on application. For communities that want to move faster or explore models beyond what Horizon Power is delivering — particularly community ownership of generation assets — independent feasibility studies funded through the federal First Nations Clean Energy Advice Grants provide an alternative pathway.
Two pathways, one destination
Kimberley communities now have two routes to renewable energy. The first is Horizon Power's infrastructure programs (ReGen, KCSS) — delivered by the utility, at its pace, on its terms. The second is community-led development — where the community commissions its own feasibility study, controls its own timeline, and has the option to own the generation assets. The two pathways are not mutually exclusive. A community-commissioned feasibility study can position a community for inclusion in Horizon Power's programs while also preserving the option of community ownership.