ENERGY Fiji Limited (EFL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Australian renewable energy company EPC Solar and its project partners – and provides a framework to progress a major grid-connected solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage system (BESS) project at Yaqara.
The project supports EFL’s renewable energy transition plan to increase renewable electricity generation from approximately 49 per cent at present to 60 per cent by 2029, and 90 per cent by 2035.
EFL chief executive officer Fatiaki Gibson said the signing demonstrated they were progressively moving its renewable energy program from planning to implementation.
“EFL has set clear renewable energy targets, but ultimately our customers need to see these translated into projects connected to the grid,” Mr Gibson said in a statement.
“There is still significant work ahead. Our focus now is on completing the necessary due diligence, negotiating a commercially acceptable power purchase agreement (PPA) and ensuring the required transmission infrastructure progresses alongside the generation project.”
Mr Gibson said EFL and EPC would work towards concluding a PPA by the first quarter of 2027, subject to satisfactory due diligence, tariff validation and the necessary approvals.
He said the subsequent objective was to achieve commercial operations by no later than the first quarter of 2029, positioning the project to contribute towards EFL’s 165 MW solar and battery storage target for 2029.
According to EFL, EPC is working with international partners, including Zero-E Services Australia Pty Ltd for the development, engineering, financing and delivery of the project.
Under the proposed structure, the private project company will be responsible for the investment, financing, development, construction, ownership, operation and maintenance of the solar and batter facility.
