This report was done by Matthew Dornan. Solar photovoltaic technologies have for some time been promoted as a cost-effective means of rural electrification in developing countries. However, institutional structures resulting in poor maintenance have adversely affected the sustainability of past solar projects. In Fiji, the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) program is the latest attempt to promote solar-based rural electrification in a fee-for-service model, aiming to remove the high upfront capital costs associated with solar technologies and using a public-private sector partnership for maintenance. This paper assesses the RESCO program using survey and interview data.

[This is the personal copy of a paper published by the author in the Renewable Energy journal. The paper can be cited as: Dornan, M., 2011, Solar-based rural electrification policy design: The Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) model in Fiji, Renewable Energy, 36, 797-803.]