Fiji Rural Electrification Fund (FREF) Support Project

This project aims to foster the development of rural mini-grids to improve access to clean, affordable, reliable renewable energy. In doing so, it plans to also diversify Fiji’s energy mix to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the Fijian power sector, contribute to national electricity access objectives and promote gender-balanced economic growth using electricity as an enabler for inclusive sustainable development. FREF is envisaged to electrify approximately 300 rural communities (households, schools and hospitals) in Fiji over the next 10 years using innovative renewable energy solutions. The provision of electricity is combined with modern auxiliary services such as smart meters, mobile payment, digital connectivity and clean water and sanitation solutions to - among other things – induce productive electricity use cases and lift standards of living in rural communities. The ability to productively harness the provided clean electricity is expected to enable rural Fijians to increase community income through multiple economic activities, reduce social inequality and promote gender inclusivity. All of which also contributes to building more climate informed resilient livelihoods. This project will seek to electrify at least 20 rural communities in 4 years to support the expeditious implementation of FREF as well as demonstrate best practices to shore up investments in FREF and its rural electrification objectives while building long term implementation and management capacity within the Department of Energy to continue FREF on a long-term basis.

This project aims to foster the development of rural mini-grids to improve access to clean, affordable, reliable renewable energy.

1: National Rural Electrification Regulations and rural mini-grid tariff setting structure developed using gender considerations and being used by the national energy regulator and the Department of Energy . 8
2: 20 rural solar mini-grids constructed using public private partnership models with an installed capacity of 2 megawatts and a particular focus on supporting women led partnerships.
3: 6,500 people living in 20 rural communities, half of whom are females, have access to clean, affordable and reliable energy and telecommunications solutions

This project and FREF in itself envisages to achieve such sizeable socio-economic impacts by providing access to electricity that allows women to perform more productive activities and earn more. Based on initial community engagements carried out by FLMMA (Community engagement partner of FREF for Phase 1), some of the key benefits of electrification and auxiliary services to women include:
- Women in electrified households would be reading more.
- 2-3 hours per day saving in avoided journeys for battery charging, kerosene purchasing, and household activities such as fishery preservation.
- Improving homework and school performance, avoiding eye problems, increased enrolment of girls.
- Increased opportunities for self- employment in electrified households such as sewing for sale and greater control over their income.
- Maternal health benefits from electrification of clinics and access to auxiliary services.