about
![Picture](/uploads/4/3/8/6/43861449/published/dji-0322.jpg?1618993425)
Across Fiji’s northern islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni, much of the electricity used is currently produced by diesel generators. This comes at great expense to the environment, and consumers who are paying large amounts for unsustainable energy.
Hydro Taveuni has developed a renewable energy solution that could change all this.
On the eastern slopes of Taveuni - Fiji’s third largest island and one of the wettest parts of the globe with rainfall exceeding 10 metres per year - Hydro Taveuni has developed a project concept providing enough energy for almost all 130,000 inhabitants of Taveuni and Vanua Levu.
The mini hydro power project would divert creek water through buried pipelines and power generators that extract its energy before returning the water to the creek.
This “run-of-river” project will have little adverse environmental impact while delivering huge advantages. All water used comes from the natural sponginess of the catchment area so there is no need for man made water storage structures.
The benefactors of the electricity generated through this project would be not only Taveuni residents, but those living across the waters on Vanua Levu, with most of the electricity produced to be sent across the Somosomo Strait in a subsea cable.
The initial mini hydro project is expected to generate at least 3000kW and 25GWh per year. This could be expanded to 4000kW - enough to replace almost all diesel generation in Northern Fiji - accompanied with pumped hydro battery storage to meet a greater part of the variable power load.
This project will benefit all involved:
Hydro Taveuni has developed a renewable energy solution that could change all this.
On the eastern slopes of Taveuni - Fiji’s third largest island and one of the wettest parts of the globe with rainfall exceeding 10 metres per year - Hydro Taveuni has developed a project concept providing enough energy for almost all 130,000 inhabitants of Taveuni and Vanua Levu.
The mini hydro power project would divert creek water through buried pipelines and power generators that extract its energy before returning the water to the creek.
This “run-of-river” project will have little adverse environmental impact while delivering huge advantages. All water used comes from the natural sponginess of the catchment area so there is no need for man made water storage structures.
The benefactors of the electricity generated through this project would be not only Taveuni residents, but those living across the waters on Vanua Levu, with most of the electricity produced to be sent across the Somosomo Strait in a subsea cable.
The initial mini hydro project is expected to generate at least 3000kW and 25GWh per year. This could be expanded to 4000kW - enough to replace almost all diesel generation in Northern Fiji - accompanied with pumped hydro battery storage to meet a greater part of the variable power load.
This project will benefit all involved:
Local residentsMany locals residents and families will have electricity for the first time ever.
This will mean a huge amount, particularly for families and women who currently toil at their laundry in local waterways |
BusinessesResorts will no longer need to spend profits on diesel power, and agri-businesses can invest back into the local economy and the labour market by processing or refining their produce.
Valuable expansion of responsible agribusiness and local processing are likely when affordable renewable energy is available. Fiji's governmentFiji’s government will be back on track towards meeting the twin goals of providing all Fijians power by 2022, and generating all electricity from renewable sources in 25 years.
|
Hydro Taveuni was established in 2018 by hydro developer Dr Philip van der Riet, the founder of global clean energy company Pacific Hydro, together with his business partners, company chairman Bill Tenner and CFO Steve Kavanagh.
Dr van der Riet lives at Matei on the north coast of Taveuni.
Hydro Taveuni was established in 2018 by hydro developer Dr Philip van der Riet, the founder of global clean energy company Pacific Hydro, together with his business partners, company chairman Bill Tenner and CFO Steve Kavanagh.
Dr van der Riet lives at Matei on the north coast of Taveuni.