Solar Energy: Lessons from the Pacific Island Experience

This report was prepared by Herbert Wade, Andres Liebenthal and Subodh Mathur. It was published -World Bank Technical Paper Number 244 in the Energy Series

Improvements in the efficiency of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy technologies and reductions in their costs are providing new opportunities to expand electrification in developing countries, particularly in areas remote from national and regional electrification grids. This report on the experiences of several Pacific island countries provides a clear indication that in small, remote villages, off-the-shelf solar PV technologies are providing reliable power at costs less than those of the more commonly used diesel systems for households running a few electric lights and a TV/VCR. Elementary as these uses may seem in developed countries, they represent vital access to light and information for isolated peoples. The report also confirms another point made repeatedly in our recent energy sector work: appropriate technical choices need to be complemented by effective institutional approaches.