Tuvalu

Mitigation

Goal 5 of the NSAP is ensuring national energy security and a low carbon future for Tuvalu. It has four strategies and actions as follows:

Source: NSAP, GOT 2012

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The Energy sector is the major contributor to C02 emissions (100%). The Waste      sector is the main contributor of CH4 emissions (74.7%) followed respectively by the Agriculture sector (24.7%). On a mass basis, emissions of C02 are the most important.  This is largely due to the importance of fossil fuel combustion as a source of CO2.  Land-use change and forestry, is not an important CO2 source in Tuvalu. IN terms of carbon dioxide equivalent, Tuvalu’s gross aggregated GHG emissions (not including the LUCF sector), across all sectors, totalled 16. 95 Gg CO2-e in 2002 and the net GHG emissions (including the LUCF sector) were practically the same figures (16.92 Gg CO2-e).

Within the energy sector, emissions from electricity generation contribute to 41%, transport sector 40% and the remaining 18% from other sectors. 

One of the main constraints to development is Tuvalu’s high dependency on imported energy sources, primarily petroleum products. Tuvalu has no conventional energy resources and is heavily reliant on imported oil fuels for transport, electricity generation and household use. High fuel pricses and fluctuations have a destabilizing effect on businesses and households, limiting growth and reducing food security, especially in the most isolated outer islands.

Renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, biomass and ocean energy are recognized as potential energy alternatives in the country.  In the response to the world oil market and to ensure enhanced energy security, the Government of Tuvalu (GOT), committed to get 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020.  The Tuvalu National energy Policy (TNEP), formulated in 2009, and the Energy Strategic Action Plan defines and directs current and future energy developments so that Tuvalu can achieve the ambitious target of 100% RE for power generation by 2020.

Tuvalu’s Master Plan for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficience (TMPREEE) 2012-2020, outlines the way forward to generate electricity from RE and to develop an EE program. It has two (2) stated goals:

1. To generate electricity with 100% renewable energy by 2020, and
2. To increase energy efficiency on Funafuti by 30%.

According to TMPREEE, Tuvalu must develop 6MW RE electricity generation capacity in the next eight years. The initial capital cost of solar arrays, wind turbines and batteries to replace the current energy demand is estimated to be A$52million.

By the end of 2012, the output capacity of RE electricity generation using PV technology totalled a mere 146 kW (peak).  There has been a steady increase int eh installations over the last 3 years and the country is tracking well in terms of meeting its target by 2020. The remaining time will be used to make any shortfall due to production efficiencies, weather conditions (that will affect available renewable resources) and other demands from the consumers.

Large scale implementation of energy efficiency improvements will also help reduce the electricity demand.  Given the steady and continuing increase in the price of diesel oil, the RE electricity and the EE program will not only be cost effective but will ensure that affordable electricity is available to the people of Tuvalu.

It is estimated that following the completion of the RE and EE program, the use of the diesel generator plant will reduce by up to 95% with a consequent reduction in diesel fuel consumption. Savings in diesel fuel over the 30 year life of the overall programme are estimated to be A$152 million (2011 dollars) assuming oil prices continue to increase at the current long term trend.  After allowing for battery replacements and other maintenance, which are estimated to cost A$115 million, the net saving over the 30 year programme will be A$37million.

Whilst the focus in RE has largely been solar through PVs, Tuvalu is ready to embrace other technologies, for example harnessing ocean energy, once these become available and affordable.

Planned Mitigation Actions

1. Renewable Energy

To meet the above objectives, Tuvalu will generate electricity using RE in all 9 islands of Tuvalu.  The Outer Islands are being developed as a priority because fuel transportation from Funafuti increases the cost of generation and has environmental risks associated with potential fuel spill. Furthermore, the Outer Islands generate 18 hours a day (rather than 24 hours) and the power systems are less reliable.

On Fogafale, the main island of Funafuti atoll, due to the high population density, available land is scarce and ground-mounting of the proposed PV arrays that will form the major component of the RE electricity system is not considered practicable. In order to provide the required area for the PV arrays, a 1,000 Solar Roof Programme was proposed by Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC).  The project will see about half of the current roof space of the buildings in Funafuti occupied by PV arrays.  In the case of the Outer Islands, a mix of roof mounted and ground mounted arrays will be adopted as there is ample space on those islands.

A wind energy feasibility study was carried out by the government with support from the World Bank and found good potential for wind energy around parts of Funafuti atoll and could offer significant technical and economic benefits.  Wind turbines are planned for installation from 2016 onwards.  A wind-solar mix will optimize the level of battery storage and level of diesel use for standby diesel generation as back up required.

Conversion or replacement of the existing diesel generators to run on bio-diesel fuel was proposed to take place and estimated that 5% of the annual electricity production will  be supplied from bio-diesel generation.  These plans are incumbent upon the development of a master plan for the coconut industry.

The following Table summarises the status of main energy installations in Tuvalu:

2.  Energy Efficiency   

Energy Efficiency (EE) improvements will be initially targeted on Funafuti with a higher power demands per capita than the outer islands and also consumes 85% of the electricity generated by TEC.

Meeting the 30% target will allow Tuvalu to maintain current generation levels over the next eight years at 2% annual growth of GDP.  The EE program will include publication education, energy audits and technology improvements. A proposed World Bank project is aimed at providing additional energy generation from solar PV and will include investment in modest wind-power capacity.  Even if various reasons, the role of win in Tuvalu’s future power mix is likely to be smaller than solar PV.  It will as serve as an important capacity building in this technology for TEC. The solar PV investment will provide sufficient battery storage and a power-conditioning system to ensure grid-stability, as intermittent RE sources become an increasingly dominant portion of Fogafale’s power mix.

In addition, the project will finance strategic EE investments in the largest electricity consuming sector.  These investments could significantly reduce the need for future investments on the generation side.  Moreover, the project will bring a longer-term perspective on RE investments from all sources by including battery storage and grid-forming inverters that represent major investments but are critical for long-term grid stability.  Thus, this project will facilitate the planned and other future incremental RE additions without leading to grid instability and other system problems that would seriously set back the country’s plans toward achieving the 100% goal penetration of RE in the future.  

3. Plans, Policies and Regulations

Under a proposed EE Act, the government will introduce legislation to promote EE and control the importation, use and sale of inefficient electrical appliances into the country.  Under the EE Regulations 2015, which came into effect 1 January 2016, Minimum Energy and Performance Standards and Labelling (MESPL) will determine importation and use of appliances and goods.  This is in line with GOT’s objective to promote EE, energy conservation and the use of Resources as part of Tuvalu’s obligations under the UNFCCC and related conventions.

Intended Nationally Determined Contributions

Tuvalu commits to reduction of emissions of green-house gases from the electricity generation (power) sector, by 100%, i.e., almost zero emissions by 2025.

Tuvalu’s indicative quantified economy-wide target for a reduction in total emissions of GHGs from the entire energy sector to 60% below 2010 levels by 2025.

These emissions will be further reduced from the other key sectors, agriculture and waste, conditional upon the necessary technology and finance.

Tuvalu’s targets go beyond those enunciated in Tuvalu’s National energy Policy (NEP) and the Mauro Declaration on Climate Leadership (2013).  Currently, 50% of electricity is derived from renewables, mainly solar, and this figure will rise to 75% by 2020 and 100% by 2025.  This would mean almost zero use of fossil fuel for power generation. This is also in line with our ambition to keep the warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Tuvalu focuses the INDC on mitigation alone, while its adaptation actions continue to be comprehensively articulated in other national documents such as the NAPA, National Communications, and National Strategic Action Plan for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management, National Climate Change Policy. The government plans to develop its National Action Plan in 2016.

Type and level of commitment: Electricity (power) sector and energy sector

Reference year or period: Start: 2020, End: 2025

Estimated quantified emissions impact:

• Reduce GHG emissions by 100% from the electricity sector by 2025. 
• Reduce GHG emissions from energy sector by 60% below 2010 level by 2025.

For more information, go to: http://www4.unfccc.int/submissions/INDC/Published%20Documents/Tuvalu/1/TUVALU%20INDC.pdf

Date updated: March 2016