Feasibility Studies to Inform the Nauru Renewable Energy Road Map

The Republic of Nauru is one of the smallest and most isolated nations in the world, with a total land area of 21 km2 and a population of just under 13,000 people. Nauru remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels used for the generation of electricity, transportation, and cooking. The Government of Nauru is, however, determined to turn to green renewable energy (RE) as a driver of clean growth and a means of reducing the share of public resources invested in diesel-fired electricity generation. To this end, there is a national political commitment to improving the sustainability of energy use through renewable energy sources and energy conservation measures. The Nauru Energy Road Map (NERM) 2014-2020 was endorsed by the Cabinet in January 2015. Under this framework, the Nauru Department of Commerce, Industry and Environment (DCIE) required financial support from the Canadian Trade and Investment Facility (CTIF) to perform feasibility studies to inform the next iteration of the NERM.

Econoler, in association with CPCS as the lead firm, was mandated to perform feasibility studies on Nauru’s RE resources and opportunities. The assignment also covered the energy efficiency (EE) potential and social aspects of clean energy measures. Econoler experts were in charge of the following inputs:   Assessment of EE Potential: Based on research and analyses using existing data and literature, several specific EE measures were analyzed along with their quantifiable impacts on the Nauru energy sector. The sectors covered included residential, commercial, industrial, government buildings, and transport. The most significant measures analyzed were: (1) Energy labelling and minimum energy performance standards (MEPS); (2) EE awareness campaigns; (3) residential lighting retrofits; and (4) a commercial EE program.   Gender and Social Inclusion Assessment of Selected RE Resources: Econoler performed a gender and social inclusion assessment of the following RE technologies identified as suitable for the Nauru context: Solar, wind, ocean thermal, imported biofuels, waste-to-energy, and energy storage. This assessment was aimed at understanding the differentiated impacts of opportunities associated with each RE source on women and men.   Institutional and Capacity Assessment: Econoler carried out an assessment of stakeholder capacity to identify the strengths, limitations, opportunities, and growth barriers in the Nauru sustainable energy sector. Recommendations were made on technical assistance measures and training programs to be implemented to enhance the integration of RE and EE technologies in Nauru.