Why are solar PV systems gaining attention in the Pacific region?

PV systems are gaining much attention in the Pacific region where governments, development agencies and private investors are promoting the use of PV for electricity generation. Stand-alone solar PV systems are extensively used to provide electricity in dispersed islands and rural areas throughout the region.

Could distributed energy resources boost the deployment of renewables on islands?

Distributed energy resources – or small-scale energy resources that are usually situated near sites of electricity use, such as rooftop solar – could play an important role in boosting the deployment of renewables on islands, increasing the security, resilience and affordability of power systems while accelerating decarbonisation.

Is Chile a good place for solar energy?

Chile is home to 15% of the world’s volcanoes, resulting in an estimated geothermal potential of 16,000MW, and its 115MW El Arrayan wind farm, which started up in 2014, is the largest in South America. The Atacama Desert in the north of Chile is considered as the most conducive area in the world for solar energy.

Why is solar power gaining popularity in Fiji?

As mentioned above, Photovoltaic (PV) solar power is increasingly gaining popularity in Fiji, an archipelago of 330 small islands of which about one third are inhabited. The dispersed nature of population within the group makes it difficult for the only power utility to provide unified grid based electricity to the whole population.

What is the development potential for solar PV in the Caribbean?

In Caribbean SIDS alone, the development potential for solar PV is estimated at nearly 72 GW, equivalent to the installed solar PV capacity for all of Latin America in 2023.

Why do small islands need a new energy infrastructure?

Islands – including those that make up the group known as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – also need to upgrade their energy infrastructure so that it is resilient to higher temperatures, more frequent natural disasters and flooding related to rising sea levels.