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/
