Notes on Sumba Island and Renewable Energy Initiatives

Overview of Sumba Island

• Location: Eastern Indonesia
• Cultural Distinctions:
  • Unique burial traditions
  • Animist religions
  • Own language
• Challenges:
  • Poverty
  • High infant mortality rates
  • Diseases such as malaria

Energy Access Issues

• Population: Approximately 650,000 islanders
• Electricity Access: Nearly half lack access
  • Reliance on kerosene and wood fires for lighting and cooking
  • Issues: expensive, unsafe, and unhealthy

Renewable Energy Potential

• Abundance of Resources:
  • Solar energy
  • Biomass resources
  • Potential for hydro power and wind energy

Initiatives for Renewable Energy

• NGO Involvement:
  • Dutch NGO Hevos partnered with the government
• Goals:
  • Extend electricity access to the majority using 100% renewable energy
  • Transform Sumba into an iconic island of clean energy
• Support:
  • Attracted additional support from development partners and the private sector
  • Recent involvement of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Progress and Benefits

• Project Example:
  • Village of We Potendo
  • Government-sponsored small-scale solar project
  • Provides power to 36 houses for a small monthly fee
  • Cost-effective compared to traditional kerosene bills
• Impact on Residents:
  • Improved quality of life for village headman Led Dwarga and others
  • Increased opportunities for work and study after dark
  • Access to television and other amenities for the first time

ADB Involvement

• Initial Grant:
  • Joined initiative in 2013 with a $1 million technical assistance grant
• Increased Support:
  • Grant increased to $2 million due to support from Norway
• Model Replication:
  • ADB's role in scaling up renewable energy access in Sumba and other regions in Eastern Indonesia
  • Potential to replicate successful models in other isolated communities across Indonesia

Conclusion

• Significance of the Initiative:
  • Success in Sumba could lead to wider cost-effective energy access for many poor and isolated communities in Indonesia.