Sparking Collaboration on Sustainable Transportation Across the Pacific

NREL Supports Pacific Island Countries’ Pursuits of Clean Energy, Resilience, and Transportation Goals

Resilience, and Transportation Goals

Island nations are on the front lines of climate change. Effects like rising sea levels that erode coastlines and severe weather that causes flooding, among other challenges, threaten critical island infrastructure.

This urgency is driving island nations to demonstrate leadership in adopting technologies that can not only reduce emissions and combat the climate crisis but also provide valuable economic opportunities, energy security, and resilience.

With support from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is collaborating with the Kingdom of Tonga and other island nations to support their ambitious clean energy, mobility, and resilience goals.

Alongside representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of State, NREL team members traveled to Nuku’alofa, Tonga, in June to hold a series of workshops on transportation efficiency and electric mobility with Tongan and regional stakeholders. They also facilitated the inaugural in-person meeting of the Pacific Islands Electric Vehicle Working Group hosted by the Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (PCREEE).

How Sustainable Transportation Can Open New Roads to Opportunity

As of today, the Kingdom of Tonga imports the entirety of its oil products and vehicles. By prioritizing electric vehicle (EV) deployment and other sustainable mobility options (such as bicycles, walking, and other modes of transportation), Tonga not only seeks to support its climate commitments but also to address energy security considerations and create new economic opportunities.

“In addition to their climate benefits, EVs can reduce Tonga’s reliance on expensive imported fuel,” said Prateek Joshi, an NREL team member assisting with transportation and EV technical support in Tonga and the Pacific.

“This will help increase Tonga’s resilience to economic shocks in the global oil marketplace and reduce their reliance on fuel shipments that could be delayed from severe weather," Joshi said. "Moreover, the money saved on fuel purchases and subsidies could be used on projects that bolster the transportation system and economy overall.”

Building on previous assistance supported by the United Nations, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Energy on Tonga’s Energy Efficiency Master Plan and an assessment of transportation trends and case studies that are relevant to Tonga, NREL is supporting the government of Tonga’s development of a national policy framework for transportation system efficiency and EV deployment.

From June 12 to 14, 2023, over 20 stakeholders from regional governments, the private sector, and development partners participated in three days of sessions focused on Tonga’s transportation system facilitated by Tonga’s Department of Energy. Proposed polices related to transportation system efficiency, EV adoption, and charging infrastructure were discussed. Throughout these discussions, attendees provided detailed input and feedback that will be incorporated into the policy framework, which aims to expand access to sustainable mobility options while reducing carbon and pollutant emissions. The workshops also incorporated feedback from neighboring country representatives, including Tuvalu, Kiribati, Fiji, and Vanuatu, who shared insights on how these solutions can be implemented in their countries.

“We value the partnerships we have with NREL, key stakeholders in Tonga, and our fellow Pacific Island countries,” said Emeline Veikoso Laumanu, deputy director of the Tonga Department of Energy. “At the national, regional, and international levels, we see these partnerships as mechanisms for change with EVs and transportation.”

Island Chains Link Up To Achieve Regional Change

Tonga is just one of several Pacific Island countries prioritizing clean energy, resilience, and sustainable transportation. Tuvalu, Kiribati, Fiji, and Vanuatu have also demonstrated significant interest in e-mobility and decarbonization.

From June 15 to 16, 2023, PCREEE convened the first in-person meeting of the Pacific Islands EV Working Group. This working group meeting brought together representatives from Pacific Island countries as well as partners such as NREL, the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility, and the Global Green Growth Institute to collaborate on EV deployment best practices and infrastructure development in the region.

“Adopting fossil-free technologies can not only help to reduce emissions but also increase energy security and resilience for these island nations,” said Derina Man, project manager at NREL. “Regionally, Pacific Island countries share similar concerns, and by collaborating with each other and technical institutions like NREL, we can find common solutions."

The working group discussed e-mobility topics for the Pacific Islands, including the importance of robust standards to mitigate risk and pilot projects for gaining experience with new technology.

“This meeting reemphasized the importance of EVs in Pacific Island countries, and PRCEEE is responding to those needs by partnering with technical institutions like NREL, U.S. government agencies, the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility, and the Global Green Growth Institute,” said Solomone Fifita, manager of PCREEE.

“These partnerships assist us in investigating topics of direct interest to the working group," Fifita said. "For example, ministers across the region have expressed interest in environmentally sound battery disposal, and one of our many sessions during this workshop covered battery reuse and recycling.”

NREL team members Joshi and Dustin Weigl, along with Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility consultant Andrew Campbell, led technical sessions on additional priority topics that aligned with the group’s interests such as grid planning and management and the role of EVs in grid resilience. This initiative was further supported by a larger group at NREL, including Caley Johnson, Eliseo Esparza, Derina Man, and Michael Callahan.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” said Mafalu Lotolua, general manager at Tuvalu Electricity Corporation, when presenting on Tuvalu’s experiences with an electric bike demonstration project in preparation for larger EV deployments.

As Pacific Island countries continue their journey toward decarbonization and energy resilience, such technology and policy collaboration will help them drive toward their goals.

Download Advancing Transportation Efficiency and Electric Vehicles in Tonga: A Review of Relevant Trends and Best Practices.

Learn more about Tonga’s Energy Efficiency Master Plan.

Original Link: Sparking Collaboration on Sustainable Transportation Across the Pacific | News | NREL