In diesel-dependent East Timor, renewable energy transition
Renewable energy potential is strong in East Timor, according to the Asian Development Bank, with almost the entire territory having the potential to successfully generate solar energy.
East Timor President José Ramos-Horta told The Associated Press in an interview in Dili last week that his country is interested in exploring various types of renewable energy sources, including wind, sea and especially solar power. “We have plenty of sun,” he said, adding that the cost of solar technology continues to fall.
East Timor, a small country in Southeast Asia, is struggling to overcome its heavy dependence on diesel despite significant commitments to renewable energy. Although the government has promised to promote wind, solar, and hydropower, the transition remains slow.
Still, East Timor's government has expressed interest in transitioning its energy sector. In 2020, it hired energy consultants to conduct a feasibility study for supplying natural gas to the three power plants. In 2021, it announced tendering for solar parks and a feasibility study for hydropower schemes.
East Timor's current power plants, which were built with large investments from the government in recent decades, can also produce far more electricity than the country demands, lowering the imperative for the country to switch systems, Heynen said. Still, East Timor's government has expressed interest in transitioning its energy sector.
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