Final evaluation of the UNDP/GEF/SPREP project RAS/02/G35: Pacific Islands Renewable Energy Project (PIREP)

Abstract

The Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are currently heavily dependent oil fossil fuels. Environmental concerns at global, regional and local levels, past and recent price hikes in the price of oil, among others, have been drivers behind a regional wide interest in renewable energy technologies. Unfortunately, various technical, capacity, information, financial and policy-related barriers inhibit the more widespread application of renewable energy technologies. In order to identify these baniers and ultimately to realize the considerable renewable energy potential, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and fifteen (15) Pacific Island Countries (PICs) launched a technical assistance project, called the Pacific Islands Renewable Energy Project (PIREP), with had as the main outcome the formulation and preparation of a regional approach in the Pacific region on removing baniers to the development and commercialization of renewable energy systems.