Renewables Readiness Assessment: Fiji

Fiji is identified by the Geothermal Energy Association as one of 39 countries that could meet their electricity demand solely by tapping the renewable energy from underground heat. Part of the volcanically active “Ring of Fire”, this comparatively large South Pacific island country is also rich in hydropower resources, with technical potential of 1 terawatt-hour per year. Just over a third of that potential has been developed by 2015.

Fiji’s draft National Energy Plan (NEP) 2014 would create a stronger institutional framework, thereby reducing risk perceptions surrounding renewable energy development among investors and lenders in renewables. In addition, this Renewables Readiness Assessment (RRA) report calls for closer coordination among government ministries and donors through a national energy committee, particularly to deploy off-grid renewable energy technologies to achieve faster progress on rural electrification.

A Renewables Readiness Assessment (RRA) identifies the actions needed to overcome a country’s barriers to renewable energy deployment, with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) providing technical support and expertise to facilitate consultations among different national stakeholders. While the process helps to shape appropriate policy and regulatory choices, each country determines which renewable energy sources and technologies are relevant and consistent with national priorities.