An economic assessment of renewable energy, options for rural electrification in Pacific Island Countries

The aim of this study is to conduct an economic and financial evaluation of a number of technologically-proven renewable energy projects, which have been implemented in Pacific Island Countries, in order to assess the potential for renewable energy to play a larger role in rural electrification strategies in the region. These include projects that utilise technologies such as solar photovoltaic (PV) home systems, wind-hybrid systems, coconut biofuel-powered generators and micro-hydroelectric systems. Using case studies from various Pacific Islands, the least-cost means of supplying electricity to rural communities is assessed by comparing the life-cycle costs of a particular renewable energy technology with the costs of supplying electricity with a diesel generator over the estimated life of a project.