Rodrigues - Energy

Explore the energy landscape in Rodrigues which highlights the challenges of dependence on fossil fuels and the potential benefits of expanding renewable energy usage and the need for strategic energy management to ensure stable supply and support environmental sustainability. Explore also Rodrigues's comprehensive approach to achieving sustainability through renewable energy sources. These efforts are integral to meeting the island's energy demands sustainably while minimizing environmental impacts.

Energy Management in Rodrigues
Management of energy consumption on Rodrigues is overseen by the Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities, not by local governance.   The island does not have indigenous fossil fuel sources and lacks hydropower capabilities. There are also energy supply concerns during cyclonic seasons due to reliance on imported fuels. The heavy reliance on burning fossil fuels for electricity generation significantly impacts greenhouse gas emissions and hence on air quality. The majority of electricity generated is from diesel and fuel oil as sources, highlighting the ongoing dependence on non-renewable energy sources.
Energy Generation (Electricity)
Installed & Effective Capacity		Generation and percentage share

• Rodrigues is committed to transforming into an ecological island by 2050, with interim goals to source 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, and achieving 100% by 2050.  The Rodrigues Regional Assembly (RRA) has earmarked funds in the national budget to enhance the proportion of renewable energy in the energy mix, as part of its long-term energy strategy from 2009 to 2025.		Strategic Actions for Energy Transition Transition Coordination Establish energy governance structures. Monitor and coordinate the Energy Transition Plan. Energy Efficiency & Management Promote energy efficiency and management awareness. Upgrade the thermal performance of buildings and replace inefficient equipment. Provide tools for better energy management to consumers. Mobility Transition Develop a 'Mobility Master Plan.' Support the shift towards electric mobility. Renewable Energy Production & Integration Establish solar photovoltaic power plants and wind farms. Enhance the electricity grid and storage capacity to accommodate renewable energy. Explore wave energy technologies through ongoing technical watch.
  Renewable Energy Projects and Achievements
  Rodrigues has successfully integrated 331 kW of new photovoltaic installations under the Small-Scale Distributed Generation (SSDG) and Medium-Scale Distributed Generation (MSDG) schemes. A notable project includes a 1 MW solar PV farm launched in May 2024 at Grenade, expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 1,500 tonnes per year and save about 525 tonnes of heavy fuel oil annually.  Preliminary research indicates promising potential for offshore wind farms. Rodrigues has already commissioned two wind farms, enhancing its renewable energy capacity and contributing to long-term supply security.
  Challenges and Considerations
  As renewable energy projects, like solar and wind farms, require significant land use, it is crucial to implement these projects in a manner that minimally impacts terrestrial biodiversity. Proper land management and strategic placement of energy projects are essential to ensure sustainable development.   Table below  outlines the policy orientations and strategies designed to fulfill the island's ambitions for renewable energy.

•