Due Diligence on the Suitability of OpenCEM for Samoa

Scinergy Pacific was engaged by the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) to conduct an independent due diligence assessment of the open-source Capacity Expansion Modelling tool (OpenCEM) as a decision-support tool for Samoa’s energy planning. The assessment was commissioned by the Australia Pacific Climate Partnership (APCP) on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Office of the Pacific (OTP) in response to a request from the Office of the Regulator (OOTR) in Samoa. The study aimed to evaluate OpenCEM’s suitability, consider alternative tools, and inform OTP’s decision on supporting the OOTR’s request.

Project Overview

Samoa’s energy sector involves multiple stakeholders, including the Government of Samoa (GoS), the Ministry of Finance (MoF), OOTR, Electric Power Corporation (EPC), donor agencies, development partners, and consumers. A comprehensive stakeholder consultation and alignment of priorities would be essential to ensure the adoption of a suitable capacity expansion modelling tool. While a full value-for-money assessment of different tools would be beneficial, it must be balanced with the GoS’s request for OpenCEM and project timelines.

The due diligence assessment, conducted as a desk-based study, involved reviewing literature and leveraging expert insights to:

• Identify and evaluate alternative decision-support tools available in the market.
• Assess the relative advantages and disadvantages of OpenCEM and other tools based on cost, suitability, feasibility, independence, and sustainability.
• Highlight potential risks, limitations, and benefits associated with OpenCEM for Samoa.

Scinergy Pacific’s analysis contributed valuable insights into OpenCEM’s applicability and alternative modelling tools, helping OTP progress its support for Samoa’s energy transition. This aligns with broader efforts by APCP and ITP Renewables to explore OpenCEM’s relevance across Pacific island nations.