Pacific Ministers of Energy and Transport adopt the establishment of PCREEE

The Second Meeting of Pacific Ministers of Energy and Transport, held from 2 to 4 April 2014, in Nadi, Fiji, endorsed the establishment of the Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (PCREEE). In 2014, the Pacific Community (SPC), the Sustainable Energy Island and Climate Resilience Initiative (SIDS DOCK) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) initiated discussions on a potential Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (PCREEE).

The centre is part of wider SDG-7 multi-stakeholder partnership which aims at the establishment of a network of regional sustainable energy centres for small island developing states (SIDS) in Africa, Caribbean, Pacific and Indian Ocean. In 2014, SIDS DOCK, UNIDO and the Austrian Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding on technical and financial support for the network.

PCREEE was developed in the context of a consultative preparatory process, which included the execution of a needs assessment and the development of the project document on the technical and institutional design of the centre. The documents were validated during a regional workshop held from 12-13 March 2014 in Nadi, Fiji. The Second Meeting of Pacific Ministers of Energy and Transport, held from 2 to 4 April 2014, in Nadi, Fiji, endorsed the establishment of the PCREEE.

The creation of the center is fully in line with the Framework for Action on Energy Security in the Pacific (FAESP): 2010 – 2020 adopted by Leaders in 2010, the Majuro Declaration for Climate Leadership adopted by the Leaders in  2013 and the objectives of the Sustainable Energy For All Initiative (SE4ALL) and SIDS DOCK.  Under the umbrella of the FAESP the centre will promote inclusive and sustainable renewable energy and energy efficiency industries and markets in Pacific Islands and Territories (PICTs) such as American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna.

Renewable energy and energy efficiency are important tools to address the dependence of many PICTs on expensive diesel and heavy fuel imports. In close cooperation with the existing regional organizations, PCREEE will fill the regional gaps regarding capacity development, knowledge management, awareness raising and the promotion of local sustainable energy businesses and industry.

In parallel, a preparatory process for the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) has been launched by UNIDO in partnership with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and SIDS DOCK. The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), based in Cabo Verde, was nominated as centre of excellence for SIDS DOCK activities in African islands.