Fiji to ramp up hydropower capacity

SUVA, FIJI - With a population of less than 1 million people, Fiji's power demand is relatively low. Because of the country's fragile ecosystem, Fiji has become increasingly renewable energy-minded.

In 2006, state-owned electricity utility company Fiji Electricity Authority FEA expressed the desire for Fiji to be completely powered by renewable sources by 2011. With funding from the Asia Development Bank, the utility has set ambitious goals for the island nation. FEA, which generates about 800 gigawatt-hours GWh per year, has developed a hydropower scheme, which will help reduce Fiji's reliance on imported fossil fuels for electricity.

Despite efforts, the ratio of hydropower-generated electricity to fossil fuel-generated electricity has slipped. What was once a 70:30 ratio has fallen to a 58:39 ratio, and dependence on fossil fuels has increased. Oil consumption rose to 10,000 barrels per day BBL/d in 2006, an almost 75 jump from 2005, and has remained high ever since.

Earlier this year, Fiji government officials estimated that the country lost $4 million because of its increasing dependence on fossil fuels. Although the FEA has also invested in independent power producers and wind power, these make up only about 3 of Fiji's total installed capacity.

To combat Fiji's reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation, FEA has invested $230 million in the development of a new hydropower station in Fiji's Western Division. The Nadarivatu hydropower station is expected to generate about 40 megawatts and supply an additional 100 GWh per year under peak operating conditions. The hydropower station was first conceived in 1977, but will not come to fruition until early 2012.

Fiji, representing the University of the South Pacific USP, signed an agreement with the government of South Korea in May to implement a renewable energy development plan. The program, titled "A Renewable Energy Generation, Resource Assessment and Capacity Building Programme for Sustainable Economic Development in the Pacific Island Countries," will focus on the development of methods and tools to help Pacific Island countries achieve energy security through the implementation of sustainable energies.

The Korea International Cooperation Agency KOICA, which signed on behalf of South Korea, has pledged to assist the 30-month program by providing funding, technical assistance, technicians, equipment and materials.

The agency was contacted by Fiji in 2009, as South Korea has become well-known for its "carbon-neutral society" mission and KOICA mentioned that it will be investing $2 million in equipment and materials for determining what type of renewable energy is best suited to local climatic conditions.

Possible renewable energy technologies include tidal power and wind power, while the remainder of the funds will be invested in a meteorological research tower and marine condition surveillance instruments. According to KOICA officials, equipment will be operated by selected USP students who have been trained on-site and in South Korea.