In 2019-21, ADB invested nearly US$1 billion in energy projects in the Pacific

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to roll out nearly $1 billion in energy investments
in the Pacific between 2019 and 2021.

As energy demand in Asia and the Pacific grows, ADB is working to improve the energy system
in the Pacific.
The bank is seeking to improve energy efficiency and renewable energy, maximize energy coverage, and promote energy sector reform, capacity building and effective management
.

Commenting on ADB's role in the Pacific, Olly Norojono, Director of ADB's Pacific Department's Energy Department, said, "Between 2019 and 2021, we will improve supply-side efficiency
by helping to install new renewable energy sources and integrating battery storage.
”

From 2007 to 2018, ADB approved financing for the installation of 62 MW of renewable energy generation capacity, the construction or renovation of more than 1,600 kilometers of transmission lines, and the connection of more than 10,000 homes to the grid
.

To overcome regional energy constraints, developing member countries in the Pacific have begun a structural shift to renewable energy, with most countries in the region using 100% renewable energy for their energy mix
, ADB's recent report said.

The Pacific Renewable Energy Program (PREP), which aims to encourage private sector investment in renewable energy, has provided $100 million in funding
from ADB.

According to the report, ADB is supporting the Marshall Islands to strengthen energy security and modernize
outdated power infrastructure.
The Majuro Grid Enhancement Project is installing Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), which will enable Marshalls Energy (MEC) to manage electricity more efficiently, reduce network losses, reduce diesel consumption for power generation and improve tax revenue
.

In Papua New Guinea, ADB's largest energy project in the Pacific, the Power Sector Development Project will expand the transmission and distribution network to increase the national electrification rate from 12 percent to 19 percent
by 2028.

In Samoa, the Renewable Energy Development and Power Sector Rehabilitation Project supports Samoa's energy sector by increasing the generation of renewable energy, repairing damage to the power infrastructure caused by Hurricane Evon and improving the resilience of the power sector in future natural disasters
.

In the Solomon Islands, the 15 MW Tina River hydropower project represents a major shift
in power generation.
It is expected to meet nearly 68% of the country's demand while reducing CO2 emissions by 49,500 tonnes
per year.

In Tonga, the Tonga Renewable Energy Project will receive financing through the Pacific Renewable Energy Investment Fund to help Tonga rapidly transition to cleaner power generation while increasing access to electricity to communities on the outer
islands.
ADB is also supporting Tonga in rebuilding assets to protect infrastructure from natural disasters
.

Similarly, ADB is helping to install battery-powered solar power systems on five islands in the Cook Islands, reducing diesel use and helping the country meet its goal
of 100 percent renewable energy generation.

Currently, ADB is supporting 14 efficient energy projects worth $371 million in 10 Pacific countries
.

Earlier this year, as part of the ongoing Pacific Renewable Energy Initiative, the bank approved an umbrella loan totaling $100 million to provide financing support including loans, guarantees and letters of credit to overcome restrictions on private sector investment in renewable energy projects in Pacific island countries
.