Suva, Fiji, Friday, 11 July 2022: The 2022 Pacific Energy Officials Meeting was virtually held from 5-7 July 2022 by the Pacific Community (SPC) in partnership with the Government of Vanuatu, as the host and incoming Chair of the Fifth Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers Meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to allow participants to discuss current and pressing energy issues in the region and to prepare for the Energy and Transport Ministers Meeting in 2023.
During the meeting the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was invited to provide updates on its work around Renewable Energy and Rural Electrification, E-Mobility and Enhancing Access to Climate Finance in the Pacific.
On Wednesday, 6th July 2022, GGGI as the implementing partner of the Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) in the Pacific, participated in the Energy Sector Finance and Cooperation session together with the Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN). PFAN and CFAN are working in collaboration with governments and private sector to develop concept notes and proposals to secure climate finance in support of the energy transition. The CFAN and GGGI Pacific Regional Lead on Investment Services, Charlotte Turk, discussed the outline of a paper titled “Enhancing Climate Financing in the Pacific” that will capture a climate finance snapshot of the energy industry sector and sub-sector; post-pandemic effect and barriers that affect climate financing for energy sector/projects; demonstrate successful projects and models implemented in Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) that can be replicated; and relevance of private sector partnerships. This paper will be developed over the next few months and presented for consideration at the 2023 Energy Ministers Meeting.
On Thursday, 7th July 2022, GGGI shared updates on its work on “Renewable Energy and Rural Electrification in the Pacific” during the Sustainable Electric Power Development session. Tazil Mohammed (Fiji) and Eva Ugena-Diaz (Vanuatu) from the GGGI Pacific team presented on GGGI’s policy support towards the development of the Fiji SDG7 Roadmap and new Fiji National Energy Policy. Over the last five years GGGI has also supported the preparation of five NDC Investment Plans including project pipelines for energy efficiency for Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa and an Energy Efficiency Strategy in Vanuatu.
GGGI also presented its work on capacity building for sustainable implementation of rural electrification technologies for rural energy access and GGGI’s support to the Fiji Rural Electrification Fund (FREF) which targets to implement renewable-energy based mini-grids 300 rural communities over the next 10 years through a blended financing approach. GGGI has been supporting FREF since 2018 with capacity building, data collection and analysis, development of technical specifications and feasibility support.
GGGI Pacific has also implemented projects such as the Solar Water Pumping Project in Vanuatu – Phase 1 and Phase 2, funded by the Government of Luxembourg and implemented in cooperation with the Department of Energy and Department of Water Resources (DoWR). So far 22 Solar Powered Water Systems (SPWS) were installed in 21 communities reaching a total of 9,478 beneficiaries under Phase 1. Since 2022, Phase 2 has been working toward reaching another 10,000 people with improved water supply through an additional 30 solar water pumping systems. SPWS training was provided to government officials, private sector and NGOs. SPWS guidelines were developed for the DoWR as an annex to the existing rural water supply standards. GGGI is also working on Solar Solutions for Health Facilities in Papua New Guinea and is currently involved completing a pre-feasibility and developing a business model and investment case for the installation of solar systems on rural health facilities in PNG.
On the same day, GGGI Pacific collaborated with the Pacific Community (SPC) to share insights regarding GGGI’s Pacific E-Mobility Program during the Low Carbon Transport Energy session. This session presented by SPC Deputy Director, Energy – Economic Development Division, Solomone Fifita acknowledged the progress in the roll-out of the regional e-mobility program and sought energy officials’ support for a regional discussion on e-mobility and recommended support towards the early adoption of EV policies, standards, and roadmaps at the national level to guide and facilitate the transformation in the energy and transport sectors. GGGI’s Pacific E-Mobility Program, which is currently ongoing continues to provide technical assistance to strengthen the regulatory frameworks and supports the preparation of feasibility studies and concept notes, to enable business models for e-mobility adoption. For example, supporting Vehicle Standards and an E-bus Concept Note for Fiji and a study to select potential E-Mobility pilots in Tonga.
About CFAN
Coordinated by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), the Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) is an agile, demand-driven initiative that offers a practical and actionable solution to developing countries facing capacity constraints in accessing climate finance. The process for applying for CFAN support is straightforward, allowing trained advisors to hit the ground within 3-6 months of approval. Countries interested in applying for an advisor can visit cfanadvisors.org to request support. GGGI is CFAN’s implementing partner in the Pacific.