Mariam Sendali, who is a Renewable Energy Consultant at 3E and a CIFE Alumna of CIFE's Master in Global Energy Transition and Governance, recently visited the Pacific Islands to speak about the state-of–the-art of renewable energy technologies. We were interested to learn more about the specific challenges of energy transition for the Pacific Islands. And to know what she learnt from this exchange with participants from Fiji, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis & Futuna who are all invested in advancing towards a more resilient and fully integrated clean energy system.
What are the specific challenges of energy transition in the Pacific Islands?
Energy transition in the Pacific Islands faces many challenges, whether social, political or technical. These include dependence on diesel imports, a lack of local expertise, unwillingness among technicians to adopt new technologies, and specific land ownership realities: most land is held under customary regimes and requires collective (and often lengthy) consent for any use or lease, which delays or complicates the implementation of renewable energy projects. From a technical standpoint, island grids are fragile: current diesel generators ensure grid frequency stability, and without advanced solutions (such as storage, control, microgrid models, grid-forming inverters), the integration of a high percentage of renewable energy would be impossible. And the climate is challenging: frequent cyclones, high temperatures, constant humidity and exposure to salt add further constraints that must be taken into account.
What kind of resources were you able to bring to this project?
At 3E, we organised a workshop in collaboration with Green Overseas on the energy transition of the Pacific Islands in Wallis & Futuna. My role was to provide a technical but also very accessible perspective on possible solutions for the Pacific Islands. I gave an overview of renewable technologies suited to the local context (such as floating offshore solar, offshore wind power, agrophotovoltaics and potentially wave energy), explaining what is realistic and what is promising, whilst highlighting the technical and local constraints to be considered. I also shared design solutions adapted to the challenges of solar installations in tropical climates, because the humidity, heat and salt corrosion change many things on location. One of the parts that most interested the participants was my session on grid-forming inverters and how they can support island grids to move towards more renewables without losing grid stability. We discussed a lot about the environmental impact of wind and hydraulic projects, and I presented some ideas to reduce this impact. I also presented the potential of biofuels by looking at a few examples of local biofuels (such as coconut oil) that can help the islands achieve greater energy self-sufficiency.
Which technologies are best suited to the island setting?
During the discussions, some technologies stood out as as the best fit for the very specific challenges faced by the Pacific Islands. Photovoltaics combined with a battery energy storage system (BESS) clearly remains the most suitable technology. These islands are blessed with incredible sun exposure, and solar power is easy to deploy; but there are challenges to overcome, such as the need to design installations that can withstand the local climatic conditions.
BESS systems provide stability and help smooth out energy production, but several speakers emphasised their limits: managing thermal ageing, sensitivity to tropical climates, the risk of thermal runaway, and, above all, the future issue of battery waste, which is very difficult to manage in a region far removed from recycling networks. Other forms of storage, such as pumped hydro (PHS), where the terrain allows, were mentioned as a sustainable solution, although they remain limited by the geography of the islands.
In short, suitable technologies are not simply those that “work well on paper”, but those that are suited to the realities of island life: a fragile grid, an extreme climate, limited land availability, a reliance on diesel that needs to be reduced, and a strong need for reliability (particularly for the tourism sector on certain islands).
What did you learn from this practical experience?
The growth of renewable energy is very tangible: for example, companies such as EEWF (Engie) and Vergnet Pacific have deployed large-scale solar and wind power plants, and the installed capacity of renewable energy is growing significantly within the local energy mix. On islands where total consumption is low, a few megawatts can account for several percentage points of the mix, which greatly accelerates the transition.
We have also noticed different trends across the islands: in Fiji, for example, hydroelectric power (STEP) already plays a very significant role; some older power plants provide a major proportion of the country’s electricity. On other islands such as New Caledonia, the energy mix is different again: there is solar power and biofuels (notably coconut oil), but there are also logistical and scale-related challenges in making all of this sustainable and efficient.
Each region is progressing at its own pace, but the range of ongoing projects, local initiatives and future objectives show that the transition to carbon neutrality can be both realistic and measurable. However, this success will depend on well-considered technological choices, clear political commitments, and genuine cooperation between the islands (a dynamic that is already evident today).
Which aspects of your Master studies in Global Energy Transition and Governance at CIFE can you apply in your current job?
Studying at CIFE has significantly enriched my background as an engineer and equipped me with essential new skills: Through the programme, I have developed a thorough understanding of the political, economic and social challenges of the energy transition. It has has given me the tools to analyse projects beyond the purely technical aspects. Together with my technical expertise in renewable energy, I was able to contribute more comprehensively: by taking into account not only the technical aspects but also the institutional, regulatory and socio-economic dimensions specific to each island. This dual perspective was vital for engaging effectively with the engineers, managers of electricity companies and policymakers from the various islands who attended the workshop.