Renewable Energy 

The EU-STREIT PNG Programme supports development and improvement of renewable energy solutions to create an enabling environment that will embrace development of the three targeted value chains that thousands of rural communities in the Sepik Region depend on to sustain their livelihoods. 

Under this component, the Programme supports policy revision and the provision of renewable energy for public facilities, enterprises, and households. The use of standalone solar photovoltaic systems has been identified to be the most appropriate source of renewable energy production for agrifood value chain development. 

At the policy level, the Programme provides specific technical support on renewable energy to the Government. This includes an increased focus and inclusion of food and agriculture needs for, and applications of, renewable energy development based on project experiences. 

The Programme also works on setting up solar power generation at select public facilities in the programme area, such as schools and health centres, to promote awareness of sustainable and renewable energy. 

At the enterprise and farm level activities, the Programme promotes and supports the use of improved solar dryers and renewable energy sources for value addition, including the drying of cocoa, the controlled drying of vanilla and vacuum packaging to optimise quality and increase shelf life. Solar-powered freezers, and ice plants are also introduced for the drying, preservation, cooling, storage and packaging of fish and fish products. 

The Programme also supports and promotes local manufacture/sourcing of improved solar-powered solutions for processing, cold chain, food markets and controlled/modified atmosphere storage facilities to enhance market access and profitability.  

Besides, the Programme provides specific support for women and youth to apply renewable energy systems in the reduction of drudgery. This includes the introduction and support at large scale for the local manufacture and provision of efficient and low labour clean cooking stoves at the household level and provision of solar-powered water pumps for water supply for enterprises, household use, irrigation and fish farming.

Village-level knowledge centres and banking agent points will also be supported through the Programme to adapt and utilise renewable energy sources to power improved facilities including for better customer services, market access and product quality as well as linking to e-Agriculture solutions.