The wider benefits of renewable energy projects are often shared right across the whole State - affordable low emissions energy, powering our communities and homes. At the same time, the State Government recognises the importance of ensuring communities that are directly affected by new renewable energy projects receive localised benefits from the energy transition. Community benefit sharing supports this. It involves sharing the revenue from large-scale renewable energy development with local communities. Money from community benefits can be invested in things like upgrading local infrastructure or services, making sure a project contributes back to local people.

The Guideline provides a clear framework for effective community benefit arrangements for new grid-connected wind, solar and energy storage projects on the South West Interconnected System. By using the Guideline, renewable energy developers, Local Governments and community groups can ensure that benefits arrangements are fair, transparent and consistent, supporting local priorities and aligned to local needs. The Guideline will empower host communities to share in the economic dividends of the energy transition while also supporting developers in building strong and lasting social licence and streamlining project delivery.

The full Guideline, along with accompanying documents, can be downloaded below:

• Community Benefits Guideline for Large-scale Renewable Energy Projects in the South West Interconnected System

• Attachment 1 - Community Benefits Plans
  
  
• Attachment 2 - Community Benefits Plans Pilot
  

To ensure community benefits expenditure is locally-led, the Guideline outlines that benefits expenditure should be directed by Community Benefits Plans. Community Benefit Plans are strategic roadmaps for benefits spending, developed collaboratively by community members, Local Governments, developers, Traditional Owners, and other local groups to ensure funding reflects the priorities of the host community.

To support the rollout of the Guideline, PoweringWA will engage an independent organisation to lead a Community Benefits Plan Pilot program (the Pilot). The Pilot will establish Community Benefits Advisory Groups to develop and implement Community Benefits Plans. The Pilot will focus on two areas of investigation on the SWIS: the Central Coast area including the Shires of Dandaragan and Victoria Plains, and the Southern Wheatbelt area including the Shires of Narrogin and West Arthur. The Pilot is expected to commence in 2026.

To find out more about the Guideline, visit the Community Benefits Guideline: Frequently Asked Questions page via the link below.

To support the release of the Guideline, PoweringWA hosted an online informational public webinar on Monday 16 March 2026. The slide pack presented by PoweringWA during the webinar can be accessed below:

• Community Benefits Guideline: Webinar Powerpoint