The Efate outcome statement from the Fifth Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers’ Meeting held in Port Vila, Vanuatu in May 2023, recognises the need to consider the potential of green hydrogen and its derivatives in decarbonising the region. This project builds upon the need and potential for regional hydrogen (and its derivatives) in the Pacific by developing a regional Pacific Hydrogen Strategy.

The Need for a Hydrogen Economy in the Pacific

The Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), which despite being a negligible consumer of fossil fuels and contributor to global emissions are exposed to ever-increasing climate risks that threaten their ecologies and economies. Furthermore, they face energy security challenges due to their heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels which supply the bulk of the region’s energy needs. Hydrogen and its derivatives can serve as a medium for leveraging regional renewable energy resources to enable wider penetration of clean energy across the power, industry, and mobility sectors to achieve energy security, NDCs, and a net zero future.

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Report B – Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Technology Assessment for the Pacific

04/16/2024

Report B of the Pacific Hydrogen Strategy that conducts a Green Hydrogen and Derivatives Technology Assessment for the Pacific is released for consultation

Project Showcase at COP28

11/28/2023

The event launches the first of four reports for consultation that will form – A Green Hydrogen Strategy for the Pacific – a collaboration between IRENA, UNSW, SPC, USP and DCCEEW that responds to requests by Pacific Ministers at the 5th Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers Meeting, in May 2023. The event will showcase progress to date and demonstrate the power of open-source tools for decision makers to assess green hydrogen as a potential substitute for fossil fuels, creating greater energy resilience, energy security and energy affordability.

Helping

the Pacific

to become more sustainable through hydrogen

State of Play

Regional Energy Policy

Realising the impact that the fossil fuel-dominated energy supply on the Pacific region and the world, the PICT communities and governments are committed to a decarbonised future. A primary concern for the PICTs, as evidenced by their targets outlined in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), is to both (i) increase the access to clean-renewably sourced electricity/energy in remote and isolated communities, and (ii) enhance the penetration of clean energy across the entire end-use spectrum. However, there are still complex implementation challenges involving technical, social, and financial barriers facing these ambitious energy targets.

Energy Landscape of the Pacific and Scope for a Hydrogen Economy

The use of fossil fuels in these key domestic sectors roughly equates to at least 23 million barrels of diesel equivalent per year, which might potentially be replaced through electrification with renewables, as well as by green hydrogen or derivatives in the Pacific Islands. The major energy consumer markets for fossil fuels in the PICTs are electricity generation, land, air, and maritime transport. Creating a significant opportunity for hydrogen and derivatives:

Reliance on Imported Fossil Fuels

The PICTs have an 82% fossil fuel-based energy supply. Regionally, these fossil fuels are notably used across the mobility (land, maritime, and aviation) sector, and electricity generation sector, altogether accounting for at least 23 million barrels of diesel equivalent fossil fuels. Corresponding to at least 10 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, at a cost of US $2.1 billion per annum, around 4-5% of the combined PICT’s GDP (with countries like Kiribati, Micronesia and New Caledonia having a share between 7 – 10% of the GDP).

TRAINING

Understanding the need for a skilled and knowledgeable workforce as an essential driver of the Power-to-X industry, the project aims to develop a knowledge hub of workshops, lectures, masterclasses, and relevant reports to help develop a hydrogen-ready workforce in the PICTs.

RESEARCH

The project aims to develop an in-depth techno-economic analysis for a hydrogen and derivative production and utilisation market in the Pacific Island and Community Territories (PICTs). The reports will establish the foundation for the Pacific Hydrogen Study, setting the scene for the PICTs to be a contributor to the global H2 economy and race to net zero while achieving energy security and NDC targets.

INDUSTRY

We are establishing a collaborative environment to bring together industry, regional, and global stakeholders to both develop the Pacific Hydrogen Roadmap, and enable an environment for fast-tracking the development of projects and market ready products.