PACIFIC ISLANDS WORKSHOP ON ELECTRIC MOBILITY

E-Mobility key to addressing climate change and energy independence issues in the Pacific

Suva, Fiji, November, 2022 – Pilot electric-mobility (e-mobility) projects throughout the Pacific Islands have demonstrated its potential to transform the energy and transport sectors.  It can assist the region to contribute significantly to the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy security and independence. There is, therefore, a need for an integrated energy and transport approach to removing barriers to  e-mobility in the region.

The Pacific Community’s (SPC) Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) recently convened the first regional workshop  on - e-mobility  for Pacific stakeholders.

The workshop included discussions and sharing field experiences around e-mobility developments in the PICs, SIDS and globally, identifying areas for SIDS-SIDS cooperation on e-mobility and establishing a coordination mechanism for e-mobility developments and networking in the PICs.

Electric car charging at Kundan Singh Supermarket in Suva

Director and UNIDO representative of the regional hub in Thailand, Stein Hansen, said, a rapid transformation towards sustainable energy is imperative for the SIDS. “UNIDO and PCREEE have developed a comprehensive technical assessment to identify feasible and viable options for integrated e-mobility solutions in the PICTs.”

“UNIDO and PCREEE have developed and are rolling out a regional e-mobility program that is based on an integrated approach that promotes the expansion of renewable energy power generation, e-mobility and electrical storage simultaneously. The programme can bring multiple benefits and mark a paradigm shift in the power and transport sectors of Pacific islands,” he said.

EV demonstration in Samoa

A regional approach can help to address existing barriers to EV more effectively and at a lower cost and can promote common standards between countries and create the needed economies of scale to influence international vehicle supply chains and investments in charging infrastructure and innovative e-mobility business models.

SPC’s Deputy Director of the Georesources and Energy Program (GEP), Akuila Tawake, reiterated calls made by UNIDO for a consolidated approach to EV transition in the region.

“The consumption by the transport sector of the bulk of the fossil fuel imported to this region is very well known. It is also very well known that the transport sector holds the key to the region’s contribution to the global effort to significantly and urgently reduce GHG emissions,” he said. 

“We all know that the PICTs have adopted very ambitious renewable energy targets and, if achieving these targets can also provide renewable electricity for our transport sector, then we have a very promising future ahead of us,” Akuila added.

He further added that, “A lot of work on e-mobility is going on in the region and each country and development partner has gained some knowledge and experiences about e-mobility. But we have not had the opportunity to sit down together as a region and as a group of practitioners with common interests to freely share our hands-on experiences – the positives and the negatives too”.

Key discussions from the workshop will form key messages and directions that will be shared at the 5^th Pacific Energy and Transport ministers meeting in Vanuatu in 2023. The e-mobility workshop was followed by the PCREEE 7^th steering committee meeting.

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About PCREEE

The PCREEE is a regional vehicle to accelerate the uptake of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies in the Pacific Islands and is co-hosted by the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Tonga Government at Nuku’alofa, Tonga. It is a collaboration between SPC, UNIDO, SIDS Dock, the Government of Tonga and the Government of Austria and Norway.

Contacts

Solomone Fifita, Manager PCREEE – solomonef@spc.int">mailto:solomonef@spc.int">solomonef@spc.int

Useful links:

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