REP-5: Energy Sector Support to Five ACP Pacific Island Countries
The Support to the Energy Sector in Five ACP Pacific Island Countries (REP-5) programme is a 9th European Development Fund (9thEDF) multi-country initiative which funds renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in five Pacific Island Countries. The project is executed by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and implemented by a Programme Management Unit (PMU). The five countries are:
These five countries are the most recent signatories to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, signed in Cotonou in June 2000. The REP-5 programme aims at reducing these countries’ dependence on imported fossil fuel as a means of achieving fiscal balance, as well as increasing the availability of electricity services to their outer island communities.
The PMU is responsible for managing the projects in each country. It has its headquarters in Suva, Fiji, and an office in Pohnpei, FSM. The PMU is run by a consortium lead by IT Power and including Transénergie and Ademe. The PMU was established in January 2006, and will continue to operate until the end of 2009. The PMU is also assisting the countries to identify renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for funding under the 10th EDF, due to begin in 2010, in order to improve continuity between the current and future projects funded by the European Union.
The total amount of funding allocated to REP-5 is € 12.4 (US$ 15.9) million.
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is the largest of the REP-5 countries, with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of over 3 million km2, or roughly 75 % of the land area of the European Union. However, only 0.02 % of that area is covered by land, making transport to outer islands in FSM very difficult. The country is divided in four states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae. Kosrae is the only single-island state; the others all have an urbanized capital and rural outer islands.
In 2004, the FSM signed an Amended Compact of Free Association with the United States, which provides funds to the national government’s budget until 2023 and establishes a trust fund for use in perpetuity after 2023.
Electricity is regulated at a state level; consequently, there are four electricity utilities, each with its own tariff structures, generation and distribution networks. Of the four utilities, only the one in Pohnpei has hydroelectric generating capacity; the others all rely solely on diesel generators. The Yap utility is the only one that has diesel mini-grids on some of its outer islands; the other utilities operate only on the main islands.
Experience with renewable energy has in the past been with solar home systems for outer islands, solar fridges, solar systems for telecommunication, solar freezer systems and solar pumps, limited wind energy use for water pumping, and small-scale hydroelectricity generation (2 MW on Pohnpei). The wind resource has not been properly assessed, but the hydrological potential of FSM (mainly Pohnpei) has been found to be 6.9 MW. The solar resource, depending on the island, is good to very good (5.5 kWh/m2/day as a yearly average).
The bulk of the REP-5 funding is allocated mainly to the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in all four states. In Yap, Chuuk, and Pohnpei the focus is rural electricifcation of outer islands, whereas on the single-island state of Kosrae the PV systems installed there have been connected to the main utility grid. To see pictures of the off-grid systems, click here.
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is the largest of the REP-5 countries, with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of over 3 million km2, or roughly 75% of the land area of the European Union. However, only 0.02% of that area is covered by land, making transport to outer islands in FSM very difficult. The country is divided in four states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae. Kosrae is the only single-island state; the others all have an urbanized capital and rural outer islands.
In 2004, the FSM signed an Amended Compact of Free Association with the United States, which provides funds to the national government’s budget until 2023 and establishes a trust fund for use in perpetuity after 2023.
Electricity is regulated at a state level; consequently, there are four electricity utilities, each with its own tariff structures, generation and distribution networks. Of the four utilities, only the one in Pohnpei has hydroelectric generating capacity; the others all rely solely on diesel generators. The Yap utility is the only one that has diesel mini-grids on some of its outer islands; the other utilities operate only on the main islands.
Experience with renewable energy has in the past been with solar home systems for outer islands, solar fridges, solar systems for telecommunication, solar freezer systems and solar pumps, limited wind energy use for water pumping, and small-scale hydroelectricity generation (2 MW on Pohnpei). The wind resource has not been properly assessed, but the hydrological potential of FSM (mainly Pohnpei) has been found to be 6.9 MW. The solar resource, depending on the island, is good to very good (5.5 kWh/m2/day as a yearly average).
The bulk of the REP-5 funding is allocated mainly to the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in all four states. In Yap, Chuuk, and Pohnpei the focus is rural electricifcation of outer islands, whereas on the single-island state of Kosrae the PV systems installed there have been connected to the main utility grid. To see pictures of the off-grid systems, click here.
Renewable energy projects
Federal
Solar lanterns will be provided to outer-island homes in Chuuk and Pohnpei states. This will help households reduce their expenses on kerosene for lighting, and will also reduce the risk of injury or fire caused by kerosene lamps. A total of 3,000 lamps will be distributed; 2,000 will have amorphous PV panels and 1,000 will have polycrystalline panels so that their performance can be compared in a Pacific environment.
The cost of this project is €210,000.
Portable Solar Lantern
Source: Logic Electronics
Yap State
The REP-5 funding for Yap state has seen the installation of a PV-powered mini-grid on Asor and Fadrai islets in Ulithi Atoll. The system on Asor has a PV capacity of 19.3 kWp, a battery capacity of 1 850 Ah at 48 V, and will provide electricity to all 18 houses and all public buildings. The system on Fadrai is larger, at 28.1 kWp of PV capacity and 2 880 Ah of battery capacity at 48 V. This system will provide electricity to all 31 houses and all public buildings. The voltage system used is 230V/60Hz, in order to discourage users from buying appliances on the main island of Yap and overusing the mini-grid (Yap uses the US voltage system, 120V/60Hz). For a more detailed presentation on the Yap mini-grid, click here.
The systems were installed in March 2009, at a cost of €700,000 (US$ 900,000).
PV system on Asor, with battery house (blue roof) and school (white roof)
Source: IT Power
Chuuk State
REP-5 provided 4 outer islands of Chuuk—Onoun, Moch, Satawan and Udot—with stand-alone PV systems for schools and dispensaries. There are 4 PV systems, ranging in size from 3.4 to 10.5kWp, for a total of 27 kWp across all four islands. The voltage used for powering appliances is 120V/60Hz.
Systems installed in January/February 2009, cost €350,000 (US$ 450,000)
PV system in front of highschool in Onoun (Source: IT Powe)
PV system on roof of junior high school on Moch
Source: IT Power
Pohnpei State
In Pohnpei State, five outer islands—Mwoakilloa, Pingelap, Kapingamarangi, Sapwuafik and Nukuoro—received stand-alone PV systems for schools and dispensaries. There are 5 PV systems, ranging in size from 3.0 to 13.6 kWp, for a total of 48.3 kWp. Onoun has a mini-grid connecting all public buildings, the doctor’s house and the school dormitories The voltage used for powering appliances is 120V/60Hz.
Systems installed in January/February 2009, cost €700,000 (US$ 900,000).
PV system on roof of school in Mwoakilloa
Source: IT Power
PV system on roof of school in Pingelap
Source: IT Power
Kosrae State
Kosrae State received a total of five grid-connected PV systems for its airport, legislature, governor’s office, hospital, and power plant. All systems were roof-mounted, except the one at the power station that was mounted on a car park shading structure. The systems vary in size from 4.9 to 16.4 kWp, for a total capacity of 52.5 kWp.
Systems were installed in September 2008, at a cost of €375,000 (US$ 480,000)
16.4 kWp PV system on roof of hospital
Source: IT Power
4.9 kWp PV system on car park shading structure in front of
Kosrae Utilities Authority
Source: IT Power
7.8 kWp PV system on entrance of airport
Source: IT Power
Copyright © 2010 This website has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication is the sole responsibility of the REP-5 PMU and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. The pictures contained on this website are the copyright of their respective owners, and may not be used for commercial purposes unless given permission to do so.
*Website Manager’s Note: We thank Mr. Henry Norman for compiling the information about renewable energy sources in FSM, also for providing the link of this paper.
[1] Portable Solar Lantern Source: Logic Electronics
For Yap State Citizens 