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PA-ENUA TAKITAI E TUMUTEVAROVARO
Cook Islands Renewable Energy
Chart Implementation Plan
Island Specific
This Implementation plan is outlined specific to each island of the Cook islands which articulates the costs, technology, time lines, and the processes. It is noted this document must be read in conjunction with the ‘Cook Islands Renewable Energy Chart Implementation Plan’ towards 2020.
2/28/2012
Table of Contents
Executive Summary................................................................................................................................. 2
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3
Governance ............................................................................................................................................. 3
IP: Rakahanga.......................................................................................................................................... 5
IP: Pukapuka............................................................................................................................................ 6
IP: Nassau ................................................................................................................................................ 7
IP: Manihiki ............................................................................................................................................. 8
IP: Palmerston......................................................................................................................................... 9
IP: Penrhyn ............................................................................................................................................ 10
IP: Mitiaro ............................................................................................................................................. 12
IP: Atiu ................................................................................................................................................... 13
IP: Mauke .............................................................................................................................................. 14
IP: Mangaia ........................................................................................................................................... 15
IP: Aitutaki............................................................................................................................................. 16
IP: Rarotonga......................................................................................................................................... 18
ANNEX ..................................................................................................................................................... 0
Figure 1 ............................................................................................................................................... 0
Figure 2 ............................................................................................................................................ 0
Figure 3 ............................................................................................................................................... 1
Figure 4 ............................................................................................................................................... 2
Figure 6 ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Figure 7 ............................................................................................................................................... 4
Figure 8 ............................................................................................................................................... 5
Executive Summary
Government of The Cook Islands has taken an audacious step towards transforming its country from dependency to fossil fuel as an energy source to a future of Renewable Energy means as its source of electrical power generation. To guide it in its progress towards achieving this target, it has developed an Implementation Plan that is; island specific, simple to understand and succinct.
This implementation Plan cannot be read on its own but with the backdrop of the “Cook Islands Renewable Energy Chart Implementation Plan.” This report provides the analytical data, advice and comments from which this island specific Implementation Plan has been developed.
The island specific plans will indicate information that is pertinent to the “how” of the roll out of the Renewable Energy projects on each island:
Island Energy Sector set up:
This data indicates the electric distribution, generation and customer details of the island.
Technology Type:
There are various proven renewable energy technologies of which a specific type will be identified here for each island.
Cost:
The projects have indicative costs (capital & operational) based on scoping studies already undertaken on several islands, the local knowledge of each island electrical infrastructure and available electrical data of each island. The full cost will be determined once a full project study has been completed.
Project Time line:
This is self-explanatory in that a timeline, of a beginning and an end, will be indicated for each island project.
Governance:
Accordingly, the projects involve various stakeholders. The processes and reporting lines along with identified responsibilities will be outlined.
Approach:
The transformation for each island will be undertaken in two approaches; the Northern and Southern Group of islands will be undertaken in a one goer approach as they are small enough to do so with the exception of Aitutaki and Rarotonga. Both these islands will have a phased transformation over time to the year 2020.
The island specific implementation plan is a living document and will be amended as time and progress ensues. A monitoring and evaluation of timelines and data will be undertaken every year to keep it current.
Introduction
There is no secret to the intentions of the Government of the Cook Islands in relation to its power shift towards a Renewable Energy future. Government has established a Renewable Energy Development Division with the Office of the Prime Minister as an indicator of leadership; and has openly voiced to the International Community, the Region and the Country of its commitment to achieving, by Renewable Energy means, the electricity demand of the country by 2020.
Government, in its endeavour to achieve its Goal, has produced the “Cook Islands Renewable Electricity Chart” the “Cook Islands Renewable Energy Chart Implementation Plan” as its guiding papers to which the Island Specific Implementation Plan is developed.
To fully appreciate the degree of complexity and scope of the project it would be advisable to read the aforementioned papers.
The purpose of this Plan is to convey, in its simplest form, to the reader what is to be undertaken and how it will be done for each island.
Governance
Over the last 20 or so years the Ministry of Energy never operated within a stable environment in that it never could find a permanent place in the whole machinery of government. The Ministry, supported by the Energy Act 1998 and National Energy Policy 2003, underwent further restructuring in 2011 by the establishment of a Renewable Energy Development Department (REDD) within the Office of the Prime Minister and the regulatory functions of the Ministry remained with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning. During this same period the Government established its renewable energy goal. The Cook Islands had now established vision, leadership, and commitment in renewable energy.
REDD is tasked to roll out the Implementation Plan working in conjunction with Te Aponga Uira (Power Company on Rarotonga), The Island Administration and Councils (11) who are responsible for their island energy needs, the Donor partners, Aid Management Division of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) and the Renewable Energy Committee chaired by the Prime Minister.
When rolling out the renewable energy projects the following studies are generally required to be undertaken. They may be grouped together or done individually – time and expertise driven. A tendering process (governed by established tendering processes – National & Donor) is undertaken. This process will be undertaken, grouping islands together for a one approach, or individually for the more complex and bigger islands such as Rarotonga and Aitutaki. The tendering process would be for the purpose of undertaking the following studies/reports:
-Scoping/Project Feasibility Study
-EIA report
-Verification study
-Design study
-Procurement & Installation
-Installation Supervision
-Terminal Report
The timeline for this process can be elongated for up to 3 months to finalize the successful tender and therefore REDD has taken measure and will continue to do so to harmonize donor partner processes along with National processes towards achieving its project timelines.
In ensuring there is a holistic coordinated approach to rolling out the IP, a proposed further restructuring of the energy sector is in the planning stages.
The above proposal would improve upon an already defragmented energy sector and increase synergy between all stakeholders.
IP: Rakahanga
Northern Group: 1,250 km north of Rarotonga. Area: 4 sq. km
One Goer
IP: Pukapuka
Northern Group: 1,300 km northwest of Rarotonga Area: approx 3 sq. km
1 Estimated 2 Estimated based on other Islands.
IP: Nassau
Northern Group: 1,300 km northwest of Rarotonga Area: 1.2 sq. km
IP: Manihiki
Northern Group: 1,160km north of Rarotonga Area: 4 sq. km
IP: Palmerston
Northern Group: 500km northwest of Rarotonga Area: 2.6 sq. km
IP: Penrhyn
Northern Group: 1400 kms north by north east of Rarotonga.
Area 9.8 sq. kms
IP: Mitiaro
Southern Group: 228 km northeast by east of Rarotonga Area: 22.3 sq. km
IP: At
Southern Group: 187 km northeast by east of Rarotonga. Area: 27 sq. Km
Southern Group: Access: flights from Rarotonga Area: sq. Km
IP: Mangaia
IP: Aitutaki
Southern Group: 264 km north of Rarotonga
IP: Rarotonga
Area: 67.39 sq. km
ANNEX
Figure 1
Project Timelines for each island
Figure 2
Indicative Cost of each Sister Island Project
Figure 3
Indicative Cost of the Rarotonga Project
Figure 4
Summary of possible Technology types and approach to roll out of each island project
Figure 6
Figure 7
The following plot presents an indication of the levelised cost of generation for the technologies considered most immediately viable on the Outer Islands.3
[...]
3 Assumes Outer Island Councils do not pay tax other than VAT. Diesel at $2 per litre. Based on Rakahanga Power Study Report December 2006 and other sources. Allowances are included for both capital and operating costs for the remote locations and small scale effects.
Figure 8
The following table ranks the levelised unit costs for the options which meet two screening criteria4 (maturity of technology and social or environmental showstoppers)5. All options will benefit from improving information as projects are implemented.
[...]
4 TAU pays corporate tax. (Diesel at $1.40 per litre) 5 Situational Analysis on Cook Islands Renewable Energy Implementation Plan towards 2020.