WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

The Government of Fiji developed a Master plan
for small hydropower in 2002. Small hydropower
expansion is planned through small micro/picohydro
rural electrification schemes; 15
In New Caledonia, the government plan includes
small-scale hydropower schemes in the future as
part of the medium term plan to promote
renewable energy. Therefore another 17 MW are
planned for the next 10 years;
In Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea Power
(PNG Power) has a Programme of Activities for
Renewable Energy under validation at the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) under the Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM). Once approved, it will be
easier to finance small hydropower plants under
15 MW;
In Vanuatu, the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
under a Renewable Energy Programme funded
Talise (75 kW) hydropower project. This project
also received funding from an Italian-Austrian
fund managed by International Union for
Conservation of Nature. However, currently, lack
of funding is hindering phase two of the project,
which involves laying the transmission lines to the
villages; 16
International finance also plays a role in the small
hydropower development in the Pacific region. In
2010, ADB has been involved in the Town
Electrification Programme (Tranche 1) of Papua
New Guinea; and the World Bank has a 10-year
project that also includes the support of micro
hydro-Pacific Islands Sustainable Energy Finance
Project (2007-2017). The project aims to
significantly increase the adoption and use of
renewable energy technologies in participating
Pacific Island states through a package of
incentives to encourage local financial institutions
to participate in sustainable energy finance in
support of equipment purchase. However, while
the progress towards achieving the development
objectives has been positive in Fiji, where
financial intermediaries have lent US$2.2 million
to households and small businesses to purchase
and install renewable energy systems or improve
energy efficiency, little progress has been made in
other participating countries and activities in
Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and
Vanuatu have been suspended. According to the
Implementation Status Report (2011), Fiji is
expected to continue its own investments and
activities, and to also provide technical assistance
and information sharing to the other islands.
A UNDP/GEF funded project called the Pacific
Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement through
Renewable Energy Project (PIGGAREP), aims to
reduce the growth rate of greenhouse gas
emissions from fossil fuels in the PICTs through
the removal of barriers to the widespread and
cost effective use of feasible renewable energy
technologies. The project is being implemented in
11 PICTs. The project component A1.2 Conduct of
renewable energy resources survey includes a
hydro resource assessment costing US$310,000. 17
However, several challenges remain in order to
proceed further on small hydropower development in
the PICTs. Finance is a major barrier in
implementation of projects that already have
feasibility studies but await funding, such as the case
in Vanuatu. Capacity for the construction of small
hydropower in the PICTs exists, however organizations
with external funding sources often bring their own
experts who do not understand the PICTs region very
well, stay short term and do not spend enough time in
the rural areas. 5 In the future, as many of the projects
are in the micro range, it is hoped that community
approaches such as developed and implemented by
APACE to ensure sustainable development can be
implemented.
Note
i. APACE is an environmental NGO in Australia.
Unfortunately, the APACE VFEG is no longer active,
but it still maintains their old projects. More
information is available from www.apace.uts.edu.au/.
References
1. Johnston, P., Vos, J., Wade, H. (2004). Pacific
Regional Energy Assessment 2004: An Assessment of
the Key Energy Issues, Barriers to the Development of
Renewable Energy to Mitigate Climate Change, and
Capacity Development Needs for Removing the Barrier:
Vanuatu National Report, Volume 16. Apia, Samoa.
Available from
www.sids2014.org/content/documents/116Energy%2
0Strategy.pdf.
2. Fiji Electricity Authority (2011). Annual Report,
2010. Available from www.fea.com.fj/.
3. International Journal on Hydropower and Dams
(2011). World Atlas and Industry Guide 2011. Surrey,
UK: Aquamedia International.
4. Secretariat of the Pacific Community (2012).
Fiji/Solomon Islands/Papua New Guinea/Vanuatu
Country Energy Security Indicator Profile 2009.
Prepared by the Energy Programme, Economic
Development Division. Suva, Fiji. Available from
www.spc.int.
5. Lynch, P.D. (2012). Solomon Country Report. See
within this publication.
6. Vanuatu, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
of Vanuatu (2010). Tender Document for three
remote village electrification in Maewo Island,
Vanuatu through Micro hydro power. International
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