Renewable energy in French Polynesia

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Renewable energy

Approximately 6% of primary energy in French Polynesia is generated from renewable energy sources.[1] Approximately 30% of electricity is generated renewably, primarily Hydroelectricity and solar power.[1] Renewable generation is concentrated on Tahiti, with other parts of French Polynesia almost entirely reliant on fossil fuels.[2] Wind power is not used, with only two small facilities, both of which became non-functional due to lack of maintenance.[3]

In December 2013 the Assembly of French Polynesia adopted a Law on the Guiding Principles of the Energy Policy of French Polynesia, requiring that a minimum of 50% of electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2020.[4][5] This was replaced in November 2015 by the 2015-2030 Energy Transition Plan (PTE), which set a target of 75% renewables by 2030.[6] The ETP was replaced in February 2022 by a multi-annual energy plan (PPE), and the 75% by 2030 target was retained.[7]

In July 2016 the government announced that hybrid solar PV / battery / diesel power plants would be constructed on eight remote islands.[8] In April 2021 the government called for tenders for 30MW of solar farms with batteries for Tahiti.[9] Winners of the tenders were announced in March 2022.[10]

In September 2022 Électricité de Tahiti performed a test to run the island of Tahiti entirely on renewables for an hour, using hydroelectricity and photovoltaics, with the Putu Uira battery system stabilising the grid.[11] This was followed by a longer test a week later.[12] Following the test EDT announced that would increasingly rely on renewables to power Tahiti during periods of good weather and low demand.

In July 2021 the French government agreed to provide a 7.1 billion XPF energy transition fund to decarbonise electricity production, particularly on remote islands. An agreement to implement the fund was signed in February 2023.[13][14]

  1. ^ a b "Energy Profile: French Polynesia" (PDF). IRENA. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  2. ^ "FROM FUEL BASED ELECTRICITY TO RENEWABLE ENERGY: The difficult path of a power generation operator on small isolated islands". EDT. p. 5. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  3. ^ Hopuare, Marania; Manni, Tao; Laurent, Victoire; Maamaatuaiahutapu, Keitapu (2022). "Investigating Wind Energy Potential in Tahiti, French Polynesia". Energies. 15 (6): 2090. doi:10.3390/en15062090. hdl:20.500.11850/540675.
  4. ^ "Law No 2013-27 of 2013 on the Guiding Principles of the Energy Policy of French Polynesia" (PDF). Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  5. ^ "50% d'énergie renouvelable en 2020 : un objectif difficile à tenir en Polynésie" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Un plan de transition énergétique pour 15 ans" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Énergie : Le PTE est mort, vive le PPE" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Des nouvelles centrales hybrides dans huit atolls ou îles des archipels éloignés" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Raffin mise sur l'agrivoltaïque" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Fermes solaires à Tahiti : Quatre lauréats et un déçu" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Une heure d'électricité 100% renouvelable à Tahiti" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  12. ^ "14 heures d'électricité issue d'énergies renouvelables dimanche dernier" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Fonds de transition énergétique, les communes en fer de lance" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Où vont aller les 7 milliards du Fonds Macron" (in French). Tahiti Infos. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.