There was strong growth potential with 35 per cent of the region's energy coming from solar and wind.
The ANU First Nations Portfolio (FNP) team has completed a Rapid Assessment of the clean energy potential of the Yamatji Land Estate in Western Australia.
The Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation (YSRC) partnered with ANU to provide technical expertise for a 'Rapid Assessment' of the Yamatji land's clean energy potential. 
The report found that there was strong growth potential with 35 per cent of the region's energy coming from solar and wind in an area where strong and reliable sunshine and wind power could provide much more.
Land agreement sets the scene
In 2020, the Hutt River, Mullewa Wadjari, Southern Yamatji and Widi Mob native title claimant groups settled the Yamatji Nation Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Western Australian Government. 
Among other benefits, the agreement sets aside 1385 land parcels that have a total land area of 1,538 km2. These land parcels make up the Yamatji Land Estate, and have the broad purpose of supporting the cultural, social, and economic development of the Yamatji Nation through self-determination. YSRC was interested in exploring the possibility of developing clean energy projects on the Yamatji Land Estate.
Finding ways forward
The Rapid Assessment report used ANU research from FNP, the School of Engineering, the College of Business and Economics, and the Fenner School of Environment and Society. The Government of Western Australia Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development supported it with funding.
The report found:
- 263 options for microgrid creation
- potential for around 87,000 MW of solar farm energy generation at around 1 MW of energy per hectare across 173 land clusters
- potential for more than 6,000 MW of wind energy generation across 13 land clusters
- potential for around 126,000 MW of hybrid energy generation from 13 land clusters.
Development of these projects would lead to direct employment for First Nations people and ownership of them would deliver intergenerational wealth transfer and economic self-determination.
The report recommended further examination of land parcels and land clusters to select priority areas for development of wind and solar projects.
Read the Rapid Assessment report (3.9 MB, PDF).
