Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen have announced a funding commitment of $7.29 million to improve Pacific nations’ uptake of renewable energy at a pre-COP31 climate change conference.
The Commonwealth says the funding will support engineers in developing grid modelling for Pacific countries to better assess and understand how to integrate renewables, and support the Renewable Energy Commissioner and a team of technical experts to help drive project development and integration.
Related article: Türkiye to host COP31, Australia to lead negotiations
It will establish an early careers program for energy professionals to lead the region’s renewable energy transition and enhance the capabilities and development opportunities for energy regulators across the Pacific.
Australia has also signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with Vanuatu to help strengthen its renewable energy transition.
Australian tools and expertise will help integrate more cheap, clean solar energy into Vanuatu’s grid while supporting a skilled local workforce.
Additionally, the agreement will support workforce development, including supporting technical expertise transfer, building local capacity for infrastructure operations and maintenance, knowledge exchange with Australian institutions and workforce planning and assessments.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the new agreement would bolster Vanuatu’s energy sovereignty.
“We’re supporting the Pacific’s renewable energy transition to help strengthen economic and energy security across the region,” Minister Bowen said.
“Bringing more solar energy online will put downward pressure on prices while cutting emissions.
“We’re proud to work with Vanuatu and our Pacific partners to access the benefits of renewable energy.”
The funding package and agreement with Vanuatu are part of the $50 million Australia-Pacific Partnership for Energy Transition (APPET), an Australian Government initiative to support the region’s clean energy transition.
Related article: Trusted partner to the Pacific, or giant fossil fuel exporter? Australia has chosen the latter
Along with Vanuatu, Australia has signed APPET partnerships with Palau, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu.
