PNG’s Energy Sector and Estimation of Renewable Energy Resources in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea: Solar and Wind Power for New Umi Township

Abstract

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is blessed with numerous energy resources, including oil, gas, wind, solar, tidal and biomass. Renewable energy resources have taken centre stage as PNG along with other countries seek to push for 32% of its national power demand to be met by renewable energy sources by the year 2030. In addition, PNG has an ambitious programme to provide electricity to 70% of its scattered population by the year 2030. In this paper we discuss PNG’s energy sector and we present an initial Geospatial Information System (GIS) based study to consider the development of renewable energy power generation at the new Umi Township in the Markham valley of Morobe Province. The Markham valley has sunshine for about 8 hours per day and an average insolation of about 500 W/m² each day. At a height of about 50 m from the ground, the velocity averages to 4m/s. The paper will present the preliminary evaluation carried out using the GIS based data. It will also draw some general conclusions from the analysis carried out for the new Umi Township for the Markham District in the Markham Valley of the Morobe Province that could be adopted for all the entirety of PNG.