About us
SIDS Lighthouses initiative
The SIDS Lighthouses initiative (LHI) is a framework for action to support Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in their energy transition efforts from fossil fuel dependence to renewables. The Initiative brings together 40 SIDS as well as 36 partners, including developed countries, regional and international organisations, development and multilateral agencies, private companies, research institutes and non-profit organisations. IRENA is the coordinator and facilitator of the initiative.
Partners
SIDS Partners (40)
Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cape Verde, Comoros, Cook Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, São Tomé & Príncipe, Singapore, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Affiliated Partners with Memorandum of Understanding
Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5Cs), Pacific Community (SPC), SIDS DOCK, UNOHRLLS
Partners (36)
Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, United Arab Emirates, United States of America
Akuo, Association of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union, Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator (CCSA), Caribbean Association of Electric Companies (CARILEC), Clean Energy Solutions Center, Clinton Climate Initiative, ENEL, European Union, Greening the Islands, Island Innovation, Indian Ocean Commission, International Renewable Energy Agency, Islands and Small States Institute (ISSI) , Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Pacific Community (SPC), Pacific Islands Development Forum, Pacific Power Association, Rocky Mountain Institute - Carbon War Room, Solar Head of State, Sustainable Energy for All, Sur Futuro Foundation, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UNOHRLLS), University of Delaware, University of Malta, World Bank
RE PROGRESS
The strong political commitment of SIDS and the remarkable cost reductions in technologies such as solar PV and onshore wind, coupled with the support of a wide range of partners, have made renewables an affordable solution for island states with limited financing and technical capabilities. Since the launch of SIDS LHI in 2014, the uptake of renewable energy in SIDS have been impressive inspite of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the recurring and intensifying natural disasters and phenomena related to global warming.
The uptake of renewables in SIDS continues to grow consistently. Installed renewable energy capacity in SIDS has grown from 3.5 GW in 2014 to 5.9 GW in 2020. A record growth of 19.5% was noted between 2018 and 2019 while it decreased to 5.3% between 2019 and 2020 which is due to recurring natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. The new installed renewables capacity in 2020 compared to 2019 included 177 MW of solar photovoltaics (PV), 109 MW of bioenergy,10 MW of hydropower and 4 MW of wind while geothermal remained stagnant.
