Pacific nations are determined to transition to 100 percent renewable energy within the next 15 years. This commitment was a focal point for participants at the Oceania Renewable Power Summit held in Auckland this week.
Ministers and senior executives from Samoa, Niue, Fiji, Nauru, Cook Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu engaged in discussions aimed at enhancing renewable electricity generation throughout Oceania. The summit centered on four primary themes: construction, market integration, financing, and asset management, all intended to support their commitments to renewable energy in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and to eliminate dependence on fossil fuels within the next decade to 15 years.
The United Nations reports that fossil fuels—including coal, gas, and oil—constitute over 80 percent of the world’s energy production. However, these fuels are the leading drivers of climate change, prompting an urgent shift toward cleaner energy sources. Given their high vulnerability to climate change impacts, Pacific nations are prioritizing sustainable energy solutions.
Toesulusulu Cedric Schuster, Samoa’s Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Lands, highlighted the positive discussion around reducing battery storage costs for solar panels, which is vital for energy stability during the transition to renewable sources. He noted that without efficient energy storage, generated solar energy could be wasted.
In 2012, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) ministers agreed to the Barbados Declaration, which included commitments by Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to renewable energy targets. Seven countries set a goal to achieve 100 percent of their electricity from renewable technologies. Tokelau became the world’s first territory entirely powered by solar energy a decade ago. Currently, solar power still accounts for 75 percent of energy for the three atolls, dramatically cutting diesel imports.
Rokoseru Nabalarua, chair of Energy Fiji, emphasized the potential of ocean technology as a crucial energy asset for the region, indicating that ocean energy could surpass both solar and wind options. He suggested that harnessing ocean currents could provide a dual benefit of generating energy and addressing hydrogen fuel needs, especially in light of the region’s vulnerability to severe weather that often disrupts fossil fuel imports.
In adverse weather conditions, reliance on fossil fuels can result in supply failures, with fallen trees damaging electric lines and floods obstructing roads. Therefore, alternative energy sources such as solar power are indispensable for island nations facing these challenges.
Niue’s finance minister, Crossley Tatui, expressed optimism that insights from the summit and the establishment of a new power station would enhance the island’s resilience, particularly in light of upcoming celebrations.
At the same time, New Zealand MP Stuart Smith urged Pacific nations to leverage local resources, noting that existing diesel generators could be converted to biomethane. He encouraged philanthropists to invest in creative projects that would enable the Pacific islands to achieve self-sufficiency, moving beyond mere financial donations.