Australia’s Yindjibarndi people, ACEN partner on RE projects

THE First Nations Yindjibarndi people of Australia partnered with Philippine renewables company ACEN to develop and operate renewable energy (RE) projects in Western Australia.

The Australian Embassy in Manila on Monday said that the partnership is one of the largest Indigenous-led RE initiatives in Australia, with a focus on sustainable development and economic opportunities.

“What ACEN and the Yindjibarndi group are doing is fully aligned with the strategic partnership between Australia and the Philippines,” Ambassador Hae Kyong Yu said. “We are happy to collaborate and work together to ensure that the partnership is mutually beneficial and sustainable,” Yu said.

ACEN has established a solid footprint in Australia’s renewable energy sector, contributing significantly to the country’s clean energy transition and sustainability goals, the embassy said in a statement.

Through the creation of the Yindjibarndi Energy Corp. (YEC), the embassy said the ACEN and the Yindjibarndi people will jointly develop wind, solar, and renewable energy projects on Yindjibarndi Ngurra, an area of about 13,000 square kilometers within Yindjibarndi’s exclusive native title land in Australia. The initial goal of YEC is to have 750 megawatt (MW) of combined wind, solar, and battery storage under construction within the next few years, representing an investment of more than P36 billion. The energy produced will be for domestic and export markets. Subsequent stages will target an additional two gigawatt (GW) to three GW of combined wind, solar, and battery storage.

ACEN International Chief Executive Officer Patrice Clausse said investment advisors in the Philippines and Australia are “helping us keep up to date with developments in Australia’s growing renewable energy sector, and sharing information on investment opportunities.” “This partnership between ACEN and the Yindjibarndi people was built on shared values. ACEN were genuine in their interactions with the Yindjibarndi people — they were honest about their intentions and listened to what the traditional owners needed,” said YEC CEO Craig Ricato.