CONSULTATION FOR THE ‘FIJI AGRO-PHOTOVOLTAIC PROJECT’ IN OVALAU
KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) Fiji Office together with the Ministry of Economy will host a stakeholder consultation that aims to predetermine the concept and component of the upcoming project titled “Fiji Agro-Photovoltaic Project”.
It will be held at Suva’s Grand Pacific Hotel (GPH) on July 16 from 2pm to 5pm. The consultation will comprise representatives from various stakeholders in the renewable energy and agriculture sector including government officials from Fiji and Korea and other development partners from GCF, GGGI, also the project developer (Envelops Co. Limited).
The main purpose of the upcoming consultation will be to discuss on project progress update and have Inter-government discussions. The project site is proposed to be positioned in Ovalau, Fiji. 4WMp photovoltaic and energy storage system will be installed. The land underneath the solar panels will be utilised for agricultural products simultaneously.
The project is estimated to cost US$17 million (FJ$ 36.58m), and will be substantially funded by KOICA (US$8m (FJ$ 17.21m)), including GCF (US$6.9m (FJ$ 14.85m)) and private funding of (US$2.1m (FJ$ 4.52m)). Commencement of project is expected in early of year 2021 and is scheduled to be completed by year 2025.
GGGI has designated Ovalau as the ideal project site as it currently depends on hundred per cent diesel generation and the generators are located at UNESCO World heritage site in Levuka.
Post completion of this project 50 per cent of the generation will be sourced by renewable energy.
This project will focus on stopping the vicious cycle of high fosil dependency and other benefits such as to strengthen local resilience, easy access to energy, secure food etc, through clean renewable energy.
In addition, maximising land use by farming on the ground where solar panel is installed giving both climate change mitigation and adaptation impact.
KOICA Fiji Office together with development partner agencies is contented to avail this Project which supports SDGs and combat climate change impacts.