Tokelau, the South Pacific territory of New Zealand, is now only two projects away from being completely solar-powered, said the New Zealand firm responsible for the initiative.
Tauranga-based Powersmart said in a Thursday statement that it had switched on the first of three separate solar energy systems that will allow Tokelau’s three atolls to do away with the diesel generators that currently supply 15 to 18 hours of electricity to the islanders each day.
“This system is among the largest off-grid solar power systems in the world and the largest solar system being installed in the South Pacific,” said Powersmart director Mike Bassett-Smith.
Powersmart partnered with Australian energy consulting firm IT Power for the Tokelau Renewable Energy Project, which was supported by the New Zealand Aid Programme and the Government of Tokelau.
The first system, on the Fakaofo atoll, took six weeks to construct and was specifically designed for the warm temperatures, salty air and rough weather conditions typical of tropical atolls.
Two more systems on the Nukunonu and Atafu atolls will be added later this year to bring Tokelau’s solar capacity to one megawatt, or 150 per cent of its current electricity demand.
The project was expanded from the original proposal of building solar capacity equalling about 90 per cent of electricity needs.
With a population of only 1,500 people, Tokelau has been using about 200 litres of diesel each day for each atoll. Once fully installed the 4,032 solar panels and storage systems will save the territory more than NZ$1 million each year in fuel costs.
The system will also help Tokelau fulfill all of its climate change obligations.
While small island nations contribute a negligible amount of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, many of them have taken strong stances in international climate negotiations because they are among the most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
For example, the Maldives, which is on average 1.5 metres above sea level, has committed to being carbon neutral by 2020.
The remote, isolated nature of Island states also makes them highly vulnerable to increasing oil prices.
“All across the Pacific there are clear issues with the current and expected future costs of electricity generated using diesel,” said Mr Bassett-Smith.
“Energy costs underpin the economic and social development of these nations and making a positive impact on these issues is the single most important reason we started this business,” he added.
Tokelau government minister Foua Toloa noted that doing away with diesel would also be healthy for the territory’s ecologically sensitive environments because it would reduce the risk of spills and accidents.
“It’s going to be an amazing change from using fossil fuel,” he said.
