Pacific Natural Grid Alliance: Niue Natural Grid
Island Power LLP
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Partnership
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#SDGAction52203
Description
The Pacific Natural Grid Alliance (PNGA) and Niue Natural Grid pilot will deliver on the Samoa pathways prioritise and SDGS for SIDs within the Pacific region whilst addressing COP27's call for innovative financial solutions to accelerate the energy transition.
We will achieve this through employment of mutual legal design and financing instruments which enable public/private/philanthropic ('blended') finance to be simply and rapidly deployed enabling investment through a swap of technology in exchange for high-cost Pacific fossil fuel savings.
Success of the Niue Natural Grid as part of the PNGA will be evidenced by a transition to 100% renewable energy grid.
Implementation of the Pacific Natural Grid Alliance's pilot project the Niue Natural Grid will be based on SD16 National Monitoring Initiative three step methodology:
Step 1: Baseline assessment of energy consumption on Niue, inclusive of transportation (land, sea, air) through the development of an energy ledger and energy billing system. Qualification of existing energy generation, storage, transmission and distribution infrastructure work practices, skill base, demography and economy, correlating findings with government statistics. Engagement and buy in from key stakeholders and government officials across administrative, operational and policy areas to enable delivery. Scoping and analysis of existing reports/studies relating to energy infrastructure and SDGs related objectives. Mapping of future scenarios for development including adoption of new technologies such as electric vehicles, green hydrogen production and ocean thermal cooling. Co-ordination with other national initiatives. Implementation of a coordination mechanism for data capture and administration.
Step 2: Consultation with community stakeholders defining clear pathways, obligations and desires. Dialogue with capital, development/operational/technical and civic/governmental partners on analysis of Step 1 findings. Exploration of systems design solution that addresses defined SDG16 goals. Transparent and participatory engagement with communities and partners whilst working within designed frameworks and review process that identify a clear road map to delivery of Natural Grids. Incorporation of future economic / environmental / demographic modelling consultation into any project design. Bidirectional feedback from CCM to RCM for the purpose of policy development and adoption within the context of Niue's needs, capabilities and experience. Utilisation of tools provided by UNDP and other agencies to aid in data analysis, communication and monitoring.
Step 3: Process driven project management methodologies for the assessment of Key Performance Indicators to enable tracking of project deliverables across multiple disciplines that will include, but not be limited to: quantity of carbon displaced (before and after). Stability of grid. Implementation time. Risk factors. Data modalities to defined by partners. Establishment of an electronic portal that will demonstrate the methodology of the Pacific Natural Grid Alliance and Niue Natural grid, providing a toolbox (Grid in a Box) solution along with policy guidance that can be adopt by communities, developers and governments in order to transition to renewable energy. All data will correspond with SDG 16 scorecards. Results of the PNGA and Niue Natural grid will be disseminated via traditional and social media channels.
Underpinning the Pacific Natural Grid Alliance and Niue Natural Grid initiative is the ability to create long term employment within the energy, finance and communications sectors. The scale of the Climate Change crisis and need for rapid implementation of sustainable solutions that deliver on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, provides an opportunity to extend the vocational and academic franchise within the energy sector to women and economically disadvantaged members of society.
The PNGA is able to achieve this through an alliance of partners such as Original Equipment Manufactures (OEMs), Developers, Investors, Government and Academia. The focus on the partnership is a drive toward 'least carbon cost' as opposed to the current energy transition model of 'least financial cost', which limits the capability to develop capacity building and technology transfer within a region or SIDS.
The Energy as a Service model (EaaS) encourages OEMs to manufacture equipment for durability and efficiency. Because OEM partners are rewarded on their production capacity it is important for them to have well trained, local skills to carry out the implementation and operation of a Resilient, Renewable, Energy System. It is anticipated that this will stimulate immigration back to SIDS who have seen demographic collapse due to skills migration to OECD countries in the last 50 years.
Provision for both vocational and academic course will be developed and delivered by the University of the South Pacific (USP). The result will be accredited course on practical vocational skills building in the energy, financial, business and communications sectors, with support from private sector partners.
Academic capacity building focus on analysis and qualification of projects in order to create a viable systems approach. The initial hub in PNGA will be based at USP's campus on Niue.
Technology transfer will be delivered in two ways. The first will be collective ownership of assets within the Niue Natural Grid. This provides risk distribution and gains across all partners as opposed to the current model where risk is adopted by the SIDS/Grant Organisations and gains by the OEM/Financier. Second form of transfer will be in the ability to design and manufacture equipment within the region. This will stimulate growth in intellectual property, manufacturing and distribution sectors.
PNGA provides a framework for partners to develop bespoke solutions for capacity building and technology transfer for SIDS through Natural Grids, whilst facilitating region wide adoption.
We will be addressing the economic requirements of the Samoa pathways and SDGs. The context for the Coordination Mechanisms being financial, legal, social, technical and academic. The objective is demonstrating a sustainable transition to RRES through new legal partnership frameworks and financial tools. Coordination shall include Country Coordination Mechanisms (CCM), Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) and Regional Organisations (RO).
We shall address the core principles of:
1: Stimulating national ownership and country-led implementation processes.
2: Creation, development and expansion of partnerships among all relevant stakeholders inclusive of communities, governments and their agencies, civil society, Non-Governmental Organisations and the private sector.
3: Reduce carbon fuel consumption whilst increasing resilience and sustainable economic growth for Small Independent Developing States (SIDS)
4: Develop, implement and promote financial 'energy swap' mechanisms that led to energy independence
Develop Resilient, Renewable, Energy Systems that are sustainable and meet SDGs.
5: Develop and promote transparency in legal, financial, operational and carbon displacement.
6: Expansion of capacity building th
7: Accountability (clarity about task responsibilities),
8: Predictability (clarity about which, when and how task will be accomplished)
9: Common understanding (shared perspective about tasks)
Country Coordination Mechanisms of Niue shall include public-private partnership and will communicate the objectives of the Pacific Natural Grid and Niue Natural Grid to all participants. CCM members will represent the interests of community and country-level stakeholders in implementing and operating the Resilient, Renewable Energy System. As individuals, CCM partners are accountable to the core constituency and as a group the CCM is accountable to the nation via identified reporting channels. It is the responsibility of the CCM partners to follow transparent processes and share information between partners and the Regional Coordination Mechanism in a timely manner.
CCM partners will be formed of governmental, academia, technical, legislative, financial and community led participants. Eligibility requirements will be set. The CCM will seek active engagement of stakeholders within their national context. It shall be balanced with well-qualified representation across geographies, genders, expertise, sectors and other factors as appropriate. The CCM shall establish mechanisms to engage with the population of Niue and shall build on existing institutions, national structures and knowledge.
The PNGA Regional Coordination Mechanisms and/or Regional Organisation (RO) will operate at the Pacific Regional level and will represent more than one country and stakeholder. It shall provide oversight of the Niue Natural Grid CCM.
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Countries
SIDS regions
- Pacific
Samoa pathway priority area
- Sustained and Sustainable, Inclusive and Equitable Economic Growth with Decent Work for All
- Climate Change
- Sustainable Energy
- Disaster Risk Reduction
- Oceans and Seas
- Sustainable Transport
- Social Development
- Means of Implementation, including Partnerships
- SIDS Priorities for the post-2015 Development Agenda
Contact Information
Marcus , Mr.