Feasibility studies shows: Green H2 helps with decentralized power supply on Pacific islands

May 6, 2024 | The opportunities offered by green hydrogen for the decentralized power supply of hotels and tourist facilities on the Pacific islands of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands have been revealed by a feasibility study in which RLI scientists were involved. The analysis was carried out as part of the project “Green hydrogen in the Pacific Islands (decentralized and off-grid power supply through mini-grids)” of the Export Initiative for Environmental Protection of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV).

The results for Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands show that energy systems based entirely on renewable, hydrogen and fuel cell technology promise substantial cost reductions in most cases, in addition to emission savings. Under current conditions, a share of over 90 percent renewable energy would already be economically viable. To achieve these proportions, both hydrogen and battery storage systems are recommended. These are easy on the operator’s wallet and the environment. In Samoa, the hydrogen systems in the selected case study are not yet competitive due to the low grid electricity price.

Green H2 to decarbonize the tourism sector

The tourism sector in the Pacific island states studied is of key economic importance. However, it is heavily dependent on fossil fuels for transportation, electricity and cooling. In view of the acute threat of climate change, the high energy consumption and the associated greenhouse gas emissions are a cause for concern. There are inexpensive decentralized alternatives, especially for the power supply, to replace diesel generators in particular.

For this reason, the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK), in cooperation with the Reiner Lemoine Institute, Chambers for GreenTech and NOW GmbH, has prepared a feasibility study on the use of green hydrogen in combination with renewable energies to reduce the share of the current diesel energy supply for Pacific Islands.

Green hydrogen technologies in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands

Specifically, the study assesses the potential of green hydrogen technologies based on case studies in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands. The focus of the study is therefore on the application of renewable energies as well as green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and battery systems as energy storage for the decentralized power supply of hotels, resorts and other tourist facilities. The RLI scientists from the Off-Grid Systems research department used multi-vector simulation software (MVS) based on oemof to create the scenarios and analyze the case studies.

The complete study is available here (only in German).