Sumba: An Iconic Island to demonstrate the potential of renewable energy

Poverty reduction, economic development and energy access combined

Tags: Indonesia , Knowledge Platform
Additional tags: Poverty reduction , Economic development , Energy access

Providing the population of a medium sized Indonesian island with 100 percent renewable energy. Improving the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of people in small island communities. Stimulating economic development as well as taking concrete steps towards addressing climate change. These are but a few of the intended outcomes of the Iconic Island project, developed by development organisation Hivos. While ambitious, this research shows that the idea of the Iconic Island is neither impossible nor utopian. It is highly realistic and technically and economically feasible. Moreover, the preliminaries have been very well received by various stakeholders both in Indonesia and the Netherlands.

This paper presents the Iconic Island project. It will highlight its potential an dthe necessary requirements to make the Iconic Island not only a reality, but a breakthrough success. The general introduction focuses on the objectives. It will provide a background, outline our strategic approach and describe stakeholders and target groups involved. Chapter 2 will show that the Iconic Island project combines two agendas: renewable energy as a solution to address climate change as well as a means to poverty reduction. Chapter 3 elaborates on the island that was identified for the implementation of this project: Sumba, in the East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia. And finally, in Chapter 4 we will describe how we envision the realisation of this project. This includes the activities and necessary steps to be taken, in addition to the financing of the various components of the project. The project is part of our overall vision. Hivos opts for clean and decentralised use of energy sources, made accessible to developing communities. We fervently believe that energy is an indispensable source of development. At Hivos we have made our choice. Our choice is 100 per cent renewable energy and efficient energy solutions. It is an answer to poverty and it is an answer to climate change. We invite you to join us to make the Iconic Energy Island happen. Read the whole publication through the link below.