Renewable Energy Costs in the Pacific - Final Report

Collation of renewable energy infrastructure project cost data in the Pacific

Aim: To analyse the capital cost of large solar photovoltaic (PV), wind and hydro generation projects bulit in the Pacific over the past 10 years.

Objectives: Improve renewable energy project design and implementation through the provisions of reliable, comparable capital cost data.

Table below highlights the  Electricity Access, RE Target, targeted year set by respective Pacific Island countries for their electricity sector.

 

 

Geography

 

Population

Electricity Access

Generation GWh pa

 

RE Target

RE Target by Year

Cook Islands

14 islands

15,200

99%

31.8

100%

2020

Fiji

320 islands,

106 inhabited

888,400

87%

900

100%

2030

FSM

607 islands

105,300

65%

72

> 30%

2020

Kiribati

32 widely scattered atolls

120,100

>65%

23

23 - 40%

2025

Marshall Islands

34 islands, mostly atolls

55,500

87%

101

20%

2020

Nauru

single island

11,000

100%

31.7

50%

2020

Niue

single island

1,520

99%

3.3

80%

2025

Palau

596 islands,

12 inhabited

17,900

98%

89.3

45%

2025

PNG

Over 600 islands

8,558,800

12%

217.3

100%

2030

Samoa

10 islands

196,700

100%

140

100%

2025

Solomon Islands

~1000 islands, 350 inhabited

682,500

23%

78

79%

2030

Tokelau

3 atolls

1,400

100%

1.2

100%

long-term

Tonga

176 islands,

36 inhabited

100,300

89%

55.4

50%

2020

Tuvalu

9 atolls

10,200

98%

5.2

100%

2020

Vanuatu

>80 islands,

65 inhabited

304,500

33%

66.3

100%

2030

Source: PRIF

In this report, they found the average total installed cost of PV systems has fallen from around USD $12/W in 2008 to $3/W in 2018. Key factors affecting installed costs  include scale, location, and footing type (rooftop, concrete or  piled), as  well as the need for fencing, civil works and any requirements to bring in sand and repair/upgrade existing infrastructure.

For PV-battery systems, the system cost has fallen from around $11/W in 2014 to a range of $5 to $8/W in 2018. Key factors affecting costs are similar to PV-only systems with the added factors of battery type plus inverters function and sizing, as well as any requirements for new control systems and buildings to house battery banks and inverters.

Keywords: Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF), Renewable Energy Projects, Pacific Islands, Renewable Energy Costs

For more information on PRIF you can visit: https://www.theprif.org/

Documents

Year Published
2019
Publication Category
Reports and Proceedings
Publication Thematic Areas
Renewables
Number of Pages
44
Countries covered
Regional