Is Kiribati embracing solar energy?

Poverty-stricken and energy-poor, the remote South Pacific island nation of Kiribati is embracing solar energy. Is its experience a model or a cautionary tale? BUARIKI, KIRIBATI — As late as 1990, nightfall in Kiribati (pronounced “Kiribass”), a patchwork of tiny islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, was accompanied by a peculiar odor.

What is Kiribati's energy consumption?

Primary energy demand. Kiribati’s energy consumption, which is dominated by imported fossil fuels (52%) and coconut oil (42%), has been steadily increasing over the last few years. The residential sector is the largest consumer of energy, followed by land transport.

How much power does Kiribati have?

The PUB serves more than 57,000 people in South Tarawa, which has the highest demand at 24.7 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2019. Kiribati’s outer islands are served largely with solar home systems, and Kiritimati island, the second largest load center (1.65 GWh in 2016), has a separate power system not managed by the PUB. 6.

Does Kiribati's 25-year solar rollout go smoothly?

But the 25-year solar rollout in Kiribati hasn’t always gone smoothly, according to officials and energy consultants.

Who generates electricity in Kiribati?

Sector context. Grid-connected electricity in Kiribati’s capital, South Tarawa, is generated 4. and distributed by the Public Utilities Board (PUB), a state-owned electricity and water utility.

Why are there no independent power providers in Kiribati?

Also, despite the potential for revenue generation from the high electricity costs, there are currently no independent power providers in Kiribati. Barriers to private sector investment include (i) lack of an enabling policy and regulatory framework, (ii) credit worthiness of PUB as an off-taker, and (iii) small transaction sizes.8