An Assessment of the Hydro Potential for Viti Levu, Fiji Using GIS Techniques

Abstract

Hydropower helps countries meet their energy needs in an economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable way while saving money and increasing energy security and self-reliance. The increased urbanisation, industrialisation and grid extensions has led to an increased demand for electricity in Fiji. Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) along with the Fiji Department of Energy (FDoE) is working actively with consultants in order to determine new potential hydropower sites in Fiji. This work is directed towards achieving the targets of 90% renewables by 2030 as stipulated in Fiji’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Implementation Roadmap. The upper stream of Qaliwana river and the lower stream of Ba river has already been proposed as new potential sites for hydropower generation in Fiji.

This study provides the current status of hydropower production in Fiji and provides a detailed account of the methodology used to perform resource assessments at various sites in Vitilevu to determine the new hydropower capacity. This technique entails the in corporation of spatial statistical modeling tool in the Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. The input data (including topographic characteristics and precipitation) was compiled and analysed using GIS data layers.

The preliminary results presented were based on a suitability map which showed that approximately 40% of land mass area on the Island of Vitilevu had potential for hydropower in consideration to factors such as protected forest covers, fault lines, slope and water retention properties of soil. The suitability map incorporates both existing hydropower generation sites as well as new potential sites identified by using the GIS technique. Thus this study reveals the existence of other potential hydropower sites not identified by traditional methods.