ENERGY FIJI LOOKS TO STRONG GROWTH IN CLEAN ENERGY
‘Renewable energy is the future, there’s no question about it, and EFL is leading the charge in carrying Fiji towards its ambitious aim of meeting 99 per cent of our energy demand with renewable power by 2030.’
Energy Fiji Limited is not only investing in our own renewable energy infrastructure, we’ll now be buying back renewable power that is independently generated across the country and distributing that energy throughout all of Fiji. Hasmukh Patel Energy Fiji Limited CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFfiCER
Energy Fiji Limited has submitted a proposal to the Fijian Consumer and Competition Commission (FCCC) to increase its share of renewable energy supply by purchasing solar power from independent power producers (IPPs) in Fiji.
Energy Fiji Limited chief executive officer Hasmukh Patel said: “Renewable energy is the future, there’s no question about it, and Energy Fiji Limited is leading the charge in carrying Fiji towards its ambitious aim of meeting 99 per cent of our energy demand with renewable power by 2030.
“Energy Fiji Limited is not only investing in our own renewable energy infrastructure, we’ll now be buying back renewable power that is independently generated across the country and distributing that energy throughout all of Fiji.
“We see it as our corporate responsibility to work closely with independent power producers who are already generating renewable power, or who are exploring that possibility, in order to create a viable market case for renewable power generation across our national grid.”
Through its “Renewable Fiji” initiative, Energy Fiji will purchase solar energy at negotiated market rates from independent power producers through a power purchase agreement –– with the objective of no caps on buybacks –– and then distribute that energy across the national grid. Energy Fiji Limited has also proposed a fixed monthly charge for independent power producers that utilise solar energy as it is produced, and then switch onto the national grid when necessary, thereby tapping into the company’s robust infrastructure network.
Electricity Act 2017
Government’s soon-to-be-implemented Electricity Act 2017 clearly establishes Energy Fiji Limited as Fiji’s exclusive energy supplier and retailer. The Act will ensure that Energy Fiji Limited’s existing taxpayer-funded infrastructure network, which was built to provide a record number of Fijians with the life-changing benefits of electricity, is not exploited.
“Under our new proposal to the Fijian Consumer and Competition Commission, independent power producers will be able to sell their solar power directly onto the grid, helping power Fijian businesses, schools and homes across the country with clean, renewable power,” Mr Patel said. “And — even when the sun doesn’t shine — those independent power producers will have the option of accessing a reliable supply of power from Energy Fiji.”
Energy Fiji Limited aims to cultivate an energy network in Fiji that is both financially and environmentally sustainable, and to accomplish that, there can be no independent retailing of power by third-parties.
Existing ad-hoc supply and retail arrangements by independent power producers also need to be fully compliant under the law.
The full details on how independent power producers can participate in the buy-back initiative will be announced in due course.