Project Summary:

Less than 15% of the total population in Papua New Guinea has access to electricity, of which often only urban areas are connected to the electricity grid. Electricity access in rural areas is estimated to be under 3.7%. The greatest share of primary energy consumption is represented by petroleum oil products (57%), traditional biomass (37%), leaving renewables (hydropower, natural gas, and geothermal) category to constitute only 6% combined. However, the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in PNG has strong potential both to reduce current greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) emissions and avoid future, growing GHG emissions expected as rising per capita energy use and electrification accompany development of the nation.

The Facilitating Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (FREAGER) Project supports the demonstration of relevant technologies to achieve widespread replication of micro/mini-hydro mini-grids, solar photovoltaic (PV) mini-grids, and township EE programs. It aims remove barriers to these technologies in the areas of policy and planning, technical and commercial viability, availability of financing, and information and awareness.

Project Objectives:

The overall goal of the proposed project is reduction in GHG emissions from the energy production and energy end use sectors in PNG. The main objective of the project is to enable the application of feasible renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies (to achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction in PNG).

Project Outcomes:

The objective will be achieved through the implementation of two key project components (outcomes).

- Component 1: Energy policy, planning and institutional development – improve development, enforcement and implementation of national and provincial energy policies, plans, and standards to promote the application of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies;

Component 2: Renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies applications – demonstration of small-scale technical-commercial viability and capacity on application of energy efficiency technologies and development of feasible renewable energy systems in PNG;

- Component 3: Financing of renewable energy and energy efficiency – improve availability of, and access to, financing for renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives in the energy generation and end-use sectors; and,

- Component 4: Energy development and awareness enhancement – improve awareness of, and information about renewable energy and energy efficiency applications in the energy generation and end-use sectors, aiming towards behavioural change.

Results:

• Policy gap analysis for renewable energy and energy efficiency uptake in Papua New Guinea;

• Socio-economic impact analysis on the uptake of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in Papua New Guinea;

• Partnership with PNG Power Limited to development of a conceptual design for Samarai PV Solar.

• Development of step-by-step guides for the installation of a mini-hydro and solar PV mini grids in PNG by working with the University of PNG’s Centre of Renewable Energy;

• Energy Efficiency Audits of 11 of the highest energy users piloted in Wewak, East Sepik Province;

• Development of the code and regulation for licensing of an off-grid electricity market in partnership with Independent Consumer and Competition Commission of PNG; and,

• Feasibility studies for mini-hydro generation

Status:

Active

Time Frame:

- Project Start Date: 2017

- Project End Date: 2021

Location:

Papua New Guinea

Focal Area:

Environment and Energy

Beneficiaries:

Government of Papua New Guinea

Partners:

Climate Change and Development Authority

Donor(s):

GEF Trust Fund

UNDP TRAC Resources

Budget:

USD $3.14 million

Project Duration:

2017 - 2021

Contacts:

Project Manager

Ms. Gretel Orake

Ph: +(675) 321 2877

Email: gretel.orake@undp.org