An overview of energy policy and security in the Pacific region

Abstract

Purpose: The Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are especially vulnerable to problems associated with energy security as some of them are small island nations and some of them have no energy access. For this reason, energy security is extremely important for the Pacific region in order to improve the quality of life and welfare of people there. As a basis one option would be to adapt an energy policy in these countries at the same time as providing alternative sources of energy to meet energy needs, such as renewable energy sources. Methodology: This paper will give an overview of the existing energy policies in certain PICs and will highlight examples concerning energy security in the different PICs. It will also look into some of the ways that PICs are currently trying to increase energy security by highlighting examples of alternative sources of energy in the PICs. Findings: The present paper is a result of cooperation during the "Small Developing Island Renewable Energy Knowledge and Technology Transfer Network (DIREKT)," which is a cooperation scheme involving universities from Germany, Fiji, Mauritius, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago. The aim of this project is to strengthen science and technology capacity in the field of RE in certain African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) small island developing states by means of technology transfer, information exchange, and networking. The project is funded by the ACP Science and Technology Programme, an EU program for cooperation between the European Union and the ACP region. © Springer-Verlag London 2013.