Cook Islands hybrid wind energy system

Will the Cook Islands have a wind energy project?

The proposed wind energy project in the Cook Islands, assuming the wind resource proves to be viable and the project performs as expected, will have a high international profile and, as indicated in the UNDP/UNESCO report, will be designed for ease of replication by other island countries in the Pacific and elsewhere.

What is the energy sector like in the Cook Islands?

The Cook Islands energy sector relies 100 % on imported fuels for transport, electricity generation and household use. In the year 2005 the world has experienced a period of price volatility for petroleum that saw petroleum prices increase from US$ 40/bbl in mid March to US$ 70bbl in September.

Is a grid-connected wind energy project feasible for Rarotonga?

A grid-connected wind energy project for Rarotonga in the 2 MW class is technically feasible and financially and economically sound at current fuel price levels. A conservative base case calculation of the projects Economic Internal rate of return shows a value of 4.4 %.

Is the wind resource in Rarotonga overestimated?

Gross wind energy available (col 3) and gross wind surplus energy (col 4) and thus the net wind supply to load (col 5) have been reduced to from the UNDP/UNESCO report estimates in recognition that there is a significant risk, pending further monitoring, that the wind resource in Rarotonga has been overestimated.

What fuels are used in the Cook Islands?

The Cook Islands energy sector relies 100 % on imported fuels for transport, electricity generation and household use. Imports were 23 million litres in 2004 of which diesel accounted for the lions share of 12 million litres, gasoline 5 million and multipurpose kerosene 7 million.

How much wind energy does Rarotonga wind farm produce a year?

In other words for the purpose of this study we assume a gross average annual wind supply from the Rarotonga wind farm to be 2,000 MWh per MW installed corresponding with a plant factor of 23%. (The wind energy project in Butoni, Fiji assumes a plant factor of only 13%). It should be noted that this figure would vary from year to year.