Solar Demand Study: Understanding the demand for solar energy in Suva, Fiji

This Solar Demand Study was designed to better understand current and potential demand for rooftop solar, as well as different market segments’ perception, knowledge, incentives, barriers, willingness and ability to pay for solar in urban areas, particularly in Suva.

This Study has also reviewed the current landscape for financial services available for solar installations and the challenges and opportunities to creating access to finance for rooftop solar to urban customers.

The findings of this report are based on results from an online survey of more than 5,000 residents and additional face-to-face interviews with households, businesses, financial service providers, and key government and development partners.

It is envisaged that this information will enable Solar Hub Fiji to better understand the demand for rooftop solar systems in Fiji and to create and promote more cost-effective packages for those in the urban areas (residential and corporate).

The findings can also provide key stakeholders such as the Government, financial service providers and other private sector actors in the market with more insights to update national energy strategies, remove barriers to uptake create accessibility and increase uptake of solar energy systems in urban areas in Fiji.

The results of the survey revealed that households are generally aware of solar energy, perceive it positively and are willing to invest in solar to reduce their power bills, limit outages reduce their emissions and make changes to their properties. While the uptake of installed rooftop solar systems is low, a significant portion of households have already invested in standalone solar products such as hot water systems and outdoor lighting. Sixty-eight per cent of households were willing to invest in solar systems using their funds. A significant portion of the sample (50 per cent) was also willing to explore loan or subscription models to finance their system or were unsure of the kind of financial options available.