Spotlight on Research: The future of small islands: Solar power, sea and sand?

A global transition to carbon-free clean energy could be a matter of survival for small island states that are threatened by rising sea levels due to climate change. DPhil researcher Kiron Neale travels to the Hawaiian solar super-power island, Oahu, to learn lessons in how best small islands can transition to renewables.

Small islands' geographical locations provide both energy opportunities and challenges. Many islands are positioned near the equator which provides them with an abundance of powerful solar energy just waiting to be tapped. A further impetus to adopt new energy technologies is the isolation of small islands - they are often set within vast oceans. Importing energy is not cheap or easy.

Trinidad, the small island from where Rhodes Scholar and DPhil researcher Kiron Neale originates, is an anomaly when viewed in comparison to its neighbours. It has one of the world's greatest resources of petrocarbon (by island standards) and, as Trinidadians benefit from subsidised energy bills, changing their energy culture is more of a challenge.

When Neale created a 'solar power' index of 79 locations, as part of his MSc in Environmental Change and Management at the Environmental Change Institute, the American state of Hawaii came top of the list. It had the best natural and political climate for solar power growth. "Oahu is a location with a lot of great lessons to offer other island states," says Neale, who is now dedicating his DPhil to studying how small islands shift to solar power.

The core purpose of Neale's research is to identify the best small island solar power practice and share it with Trinidadian policy makers.

Oahu and Trinidad have stark differences in their energy policies. Their renewable energy targets are 100% by 2045 and 10% by 2021 respectively. Oahu, having incentivised solar power uptake with a 1:1 tariff scheme called Net Energy Metering (selling and buying back electricity at the same price), now has over 47,000 photovoltaic (PV) systems installed on the island; NEM is but one policy used to achieve this.

When interviewing energy industry and government professionals about Oahu's energy policy, Neale uncovered some unforeseen side effects of their clean energy revolution. There were safety concerns by some when, at peak sunlight, the grid could became saturated with electricity.

As wealthier households are more likely to invest in the PV technology, Neale's work shed light on a broadening of the gap between the rich and the poor. Those with panels made money from them and those without were hit with rising bills.

Kiron believes the message is clear for other islands states such as Trinidad. "I would advise Trinidad to develop a solar power policy that avoids further deepening inequity," Kiron explains. "There are currently missed opportunities because islands are not talking to, and learning from, one another," he says. "I would to love my research to be considered by the Trinidadian government - that's why I'm doing this, because I want to see change. I want Trinidad to adopt sustainable energy policy recommendations."

"I would love my research to be considered by the Trinidadian government - that's why I'm doing this, because I want to see change. I want Trinidad to adopt sustainable energy policy recommendations."

Kiron Neale, DPhil Research Student
School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford.

Funded by the 2013 Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholarship administered by The Rhodes Trust; the Sir Peter Elworthy Grant administered by The Rhodes Trust; and Santander Academic Travel Award administered by Santander and The University of Oxford.