The Hon. Ro Filipe Tuisawau, Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport, yesterday (5.09.25) officiated at the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Fiji Government, Fiji National University (FNU), and the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
The partnership will see the establishment of the Solar Technology and Application Resource Centre (STAR-C) at FNU’s College of Engineering and Technical, Vocational Education & Training (CETVET), with funding support from ISA.
Minister Tuisawau said the initiative marks a significant milestone in Fiji’s renewable energy journey, describing STAR-C as “a hub for training, knowledge sharing, and expertise in solar energy technologies.”
The Centre will focus on:
Training and capacity building in solar technologies
Testing and quality assurance of solar equipment
Knowledge management and research
Entrepreneurial development and community empowerment
“This MoU reflects the deepening energy cooperation between Fiji and India, and underscores our ambitious targets of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050,” the Minister said.
He highlighted the importance of working with academic institutions to address challenges in Fiji’s solar energy sector, including knowledge and skills gaps, financing constraints, limited awareness, and supply chain barriers.
“The establishment of STAR-C will help develop a new generation of skilled researchers, technicians, and project managers in the solar field, while ensuring quality standards and supporting entrepreneurship,” he added.
Minister Tuisawau thanked ISA and FNU for their collaborative efforts in advancing Fiji’s clean energy transition.
“Achieving a renewable energy future is not easy. Challenges will arise, but with partnerships such as this, we open new opportunities. No country can address energy challenges alone. Building strong international and institutional partnerships is essential,” he said.
The Government reaffirmed its commitment to working with stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and energy-secure future for Fiji.