As part of its efforts in helping achieve Palau’s energy target by 2025, the Palau Energy Administration (PEA) conducted electrical appliances survey among households in Koror and Airai, the most populated areas in Palau.
PEA Executive Director Gregorio Decherong said in an interview with Island Times yesterday that the reason why they are conducting the household energy survey is to be able to see what is actually happening in the market and among homes.
“With the data collected, we will be able to make and inform what are the next steps to take,” Decherong said.
The survey in Airai had already been completed while the Koror survey is still on-going. Households who participated in the sampling of the survey automatically got an entry for the drawing contest. The winner for the draw gets a monetary prize.
Yesterday, Peggy Andreas, a survey participant, was awarded a monetary prize at the PEA office for winning the draw for Airai State.
Decherong said that their office was thankful for the hospitality and participation of the people of Airai in the survey.
For Koror, surveyors are targeting 160 households to meet the 15% requirements of the survey.
Decherong also said that in a household census, they had found out that Koror and Airai homes have higher electricity usage because they used more appliances.
This kind of survey has never done in Palau before, according to Decherong, as the survey they conducted now is specific to the type of appliances that household are using.
Previously, President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. signed an Executive Order establishing a Palau National Energy Committee tasked to take steps to fulfill Palau’s ambitious target of 45 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.
Remengesau Jr. had also expressed his confidence that Palau is in a strong position to meet its 2025 renewable energy target of 45 percent.
With Palau’s small population, it could easily switch to a more sustainable generation of electricity, Remengesau previously said.
Remengesau said renewable energy sources such, as the sun is readily available in Palau, which will be more environmentally friendly and cheaper in the long run.
The action plan also estimated that investments costs are projected to be at $70 million. Remenegsau said development partners would help Palau identify funding sources to meet their target by 2025.
He said that he is happy that Palau lawmakers are in support of “walking the talk” to forge ahead to a low-carbon future. (Rhealyn C. Pojas/Reporter)