Pushing for renewables in the Pacific
In her presentation, Ms Gobel highlighted some of the challenges that have hindered the development of reliable energy infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region.
For example, small islands comprise a wide range of ecosystems, predominantly influenced by marine systems that make infrastructure development expensive to establish and maintain. Furthermore, energy markets in the region are often thin, difficult to serve and lack the support of a significant economy.
While the region is home to nine million people, only 30 per cent have access to energy, and high oil prices cause extreme energy vulnerability for many Pacific Island countries.
A number of countries in the region have therefore set renewable energy targets in order to promote increased energy supply.
Case study: on-grid PV for Tuvalu
Tuvalu, a Polynesian island-nation located in the Pacific, set a target for 100 per cent energy generation from renewable sources by 2020. In order to generate all of its electricity from solar and wind energy, as well as end dependence on diesel, it was estimated that the target will cost the nation $US20 million ($AU18.7 million).
To help facilitate the target, a 46 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system has been installed to power Motofua Secondary School.
The system is supported by a 160 kW hour hybrid battery system, which for energy security measures can be powered by either solar PV or a generator.
On his country’s clean energy actions, Kausea Natano, Tuvalu Minister for Public Utilities and Industries says: “We look forward to the day when our nation offers an example to all – powered entirely by natural resources such as the sun and the wind.”
Case study: off-grid PV for the Solomon Islands
On the Solomon Islands, the Pacific Micro Energy Service Companies (PMESCOs) was established by REEEP in order to create a market demand for home solar systems in remote rural areas of the Solomon Islands.
The establishment of PEMESCOs brought ninety 5 watt solar-powered LED lanterns to remote rural households in the Solomon Islands, replacing the default kerosene lighting, which is expensive and poses harmful health effects.
This initiative gave an opportunity to identify and train local entrepreneurs in the assembling, installation and maintenance of the solar PV LED lighting systems, which are supported by a micro-credit scheme.
The initiative also brings savings in fuel costs to the Solomon Islands. Kerosene will cost a typical household the equivalent of approximately €0.63 ($AU0.83) per day and, in comparison, the value of the crops traded for solar LED lighting amounts to less than half that, at €0.28 ($AU0.31) per day for the duration of the loan period of typically 18–24 months.
Maaike Gobel is the Manager of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership, a global partnership that works to reduce barriers limiting the uptake of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in emerging markets and developing countries. Maaike has previously worked as a project manager for the Australian Government, and as a climate change policy analyst for the Government of the Netherlands.
