This article summarises the status of renewable energy in Oceania.

The Pacific island nations are heavily dependent on costly fossil fuel imports,[1] so they are turning, to varying degrees, to renewable energy. Options include household photovoltaic (PV) systems and hydroelectricity on the hillier islands.[2]

Australia

Main article: Renewable energy in Australia

New Zealand

Main article: Renewable energy in New Zealand

Melanesia

Fiji

The percentage of renewable electricity generation increased from 59% in 2013 to 65% in 2016.[3] The Fiji Electricity Authority hopes to generate 81% renewably by 2020, from hydropower (c. 50% currently), biomass, solar energy and wind power.[2]

Solomon Islands

Renewable electricity generation grew from <1% in 2013 to 5% in 2016.[3]

Vanuatu

Renewable electricity generation grew from 16% in 2013 to 29% in 2016.[3]

Micronesia

Renewable electricity generation has risen from 0% in 2013 to 5% in 2016.[3]

Federated States of Micronesia

Over 350 household solar systems were installed on Yap's outer islands.[3]

Kiribati

Renewable electricity generation grew from 0.2% in 2013 to 10% in 2016.[3]

Marshall Islands

Renewable electricity generation accounts for <1% as of 2016.[3]

Nauru

Renewable electricity generation grew from <1% in 2013 to 3.2% in 2016.[3]

Palau

Renewable electricity generation grew from 0.4% in 2013 to 2.3% in 2016.[3]

Polynesia

Cook Islands

The percentage of renewable electricity generation grew from 3% in 2013 to 15% in 2016.[3] Four PV-diesel hybrid systems are scheduled to be installed in the outer islands by mid-2017.[3]

Niue

Renewable electricity generation grew 2.5% in 2013 to 9% in 2016.[3]

Samoa

Between 2013 and 2016, renewable generation capacity grew from 7.5 MW to 15.4 MW, mostly due to solar energy systems, but also due to two wind turbines.[3] Apolima became the first 100% renewable Pacific island.[3]

Tokelau

Almost 100% of renewable generation is due to solar PV systems.[3]

Tonga

In 2000, 75% of Tonga's energy came from petroleum imports, with biomass and photovoltaic systems accounting for the remainder.[4] In April 2009, the government of Tonga sought to reduce this costly petroleum dependency by developing a plan, subsequently called the Tonga Energy Road Map 2010 – 2020 (TERM).[2][4]

Renewable electricity generation is expected to grow from 5.4% in 2013 to 13% in 2018.[3]

Tuvalu

Main article: Renewable energy in Tuvalu

See also

References

  1. ^ "Renewable Energy Resources in OCEANIA". Global Energy Network Institute.
  2. ^ a b c "Renewable Energy in the Pacific Islands: its role and status". Energy Change Institute, Australian National University.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Pacific Energy Conference 2016: Pacific Energy Country Profiles" (PDF). New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
  4. ^ a b "Tonga Energy Road Map 2010 ‐ 2020" (PDF). Government of Tonga. June 2010.


Categories