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Fiji

Fiji's economy, with a GDP of around $4.98 billion USD in 2022 [1] , relies heavily on tourism, which also drives a significant portion of the country's energy needs. While Fiji is working to transition to renewable sources, its primary energy consumption still comes from imported fossil fuels, highlighting the need for a balance between economic growth and sustainable energy practices.

There has been a growing focus on renewables, with hydropower being the dominant renewable source (54-55%), but vulnerable to seasonal rainfall variations. Bioenergy contributes a smaller but steady share of 16%. Currently wind and solar holds a small portion of 5 % and remains a minor contributor, but with potential for future growth.

 

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  Fig 1: Installed capacity trend in Fiji (IRENA2022)

 

The Fijian government aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and has plans to phase them out entirely by 2030 [2] . Overall, Fiji is transitioning towards a more sustainable energy mix by increasing its use of renewable resources and decreasing its dependence on imported fossil fuels.   
 

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Fig 2: Electricity Generation trend in Fiji (IRENA 2022)

 


[2] Renewable Energy - International Trade Administration

General Information

There is no well-established hydrogen policy in Fiji yet. However, there are signs of growing interest and potential for hydrogen development:

  • Focus on Renewable Energy: Fiji has ambitious goals for increasing renewable energy usage, and hydrogen can potentially complement existing renewables like solar and wind by providing dispatchable, on-demand power.

  • Pilot Projects: Initiatives like the demonstration project to import green hydrogen from New Zealand and the exploration of hydrogen-powered government vessels indicate a willingness to explore hydrogen's potential [1] .

  • Renewstable® Technology: The recent announcement of a potential green hydrogen power plant project using HDF Energy's Renewstable® technology suggests a focus on integrating hydrogen with existing renewables for a stable power supply [2] .

While a concrete hydrogen policy isn't available, Fiji's renewable energy goals and pilot projects suggest the country is open to exploring hydrogen's role in its future energy mix.

Hydrogen Profile [3]

EXPORTS

In 2022, Fiji exported $207k in Hydrogen, making it the 101st largest exporter of Hydrogen in the world. At the same year, Hydrogen was the 201st most exported product in Fiji. The main destination of Hydrogen exports from Fiji are Samoa ($129k), Tonga ($31k), Kiribati ($20.3k), Singapore ($10.4k), and United States ($6.28k).

The fastest growing export markets for Hydrogen of Fiji between 2021 and 2022 were Samoa ($90k), Singapore ($10.4k), and Kiribati ($3.52k).

IMPORTS

In 2022, Fiji imported $730k in Hydrogen, becoming the 131st largest importer of Hydrogen in the world. At the same year, Hydrogen was the 412th most imported product in Fiji. Fiji imports Hydrogen primarily from: New Zealand ($527k), Australia ($134k), United States ($32.9k), France ($21.8k), and China ($14.5k).

The fastest growing import markets in Hydrogen for Fiji between 2021 and 2022 were Australia ($42.5k), France ($19.5k), and New Zealand ($16.3k).

While a dedicated regulatory framework is not in place yet, these developments suggest that Fiji might be laying the groundwork for future hydrogen regulations.

Here's what we might see in a potential future framework:

  • Safety Regulations: Standards and guidelines for handling, storing, and transporting green hydrogen to ensure public safety.

  • Electrolyzer Manufacturing and Green Hydrogen Production Incentives: Policies to encourage investment in green hydrogen production facilities and electrolyzer manufacturing, potentially like India's National Green Hydrogen Mission.

  • Renewable Energy Integration: Regulations that facilitate integrating green hydrogen with existing renewable energy infrastructure for a robust and clean energy mix.

  • Hydrogen Use and Applications: Regulations addressing the use of green hydrogen in different sectors like transportation and industry, potentially including blending mandates with fossil fuels.

Infrastructure

  • Government targets: Fiji aims for 100% renewable energy generation by 2036, with a strong focus on achieving 90% by 2030 [1]

  • Current progress: Hydropower is already the leading source of electricity, but the plan is to diversify the mix with solar, wind, geothermal, and other options. 

  • International Support: Grants and funding from organizations like the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are helping with projects that bring clean energy to remote areas.

 

Fiji's infrastructure for a green hydrogen revolution is still in its early stages. However, there are signs of potential and ongoing developments that could pave the way for future adoption:

  • Electrolyzer Facilities: Large-scale plants powered by renewable energy sources to produce green hydrogen.

  • Hydrogen Storage Facilities: Safe and efficient storage solutions like underground caverns or salt caverns may be needed.

  • Hydrogen Transportation Infrastructure: Pipelines for bulk transportation or a network of hydrogen fuelling stations for vehicles, depending on the applications.

  • Pilot Projects Paving the Way: Successful demonstration projects like the green hydrogen import from New Zealand can inform future, larger-scale domestic production.

  • Phased Approach: Fiji might adopt a phased approach, starting with smaller-scale green hydrogen projects integrated with existing renewables, and gradually expanding infrastructure.

  • Focus on Specific Applications: Initially, green hydrogen use might be targeted towards specific sectors, like clean transportation options or supplementing existing power generation during peak demand periods.

  • Collaboration is Key: Partnerships between the Fijian government, private companies, and international organizations with green hydrogen expertise can be crucial for project development and knowledge transfer.