Caption: Mr. Jesus Lavina Richi , EU Delegation’s for the Pacific Head of Infrastructure, Natural Resources, Environment & Energy Section, Ms. Limasene Teatu, Tuvalu’s Permanent Secretary of Finance and National Authorization Officer and General Manager for the South Pacific Region of CBS Power Solutions Mr Amit Singh.
With the support of the European Union three islands of Tuvalu, Nukulaelae, Nukufetau and Nui, will be able to enjoy 24 hours-a-day electricity produced by solar systems. This clean and sustainable source of energy will allow the Government of Tuvalu to save up to 120,000 litres of diesel per year or about AU$200,000.
The Government of Tuvalu, the European Union (EU) and a private contractor (CBS Power Solutions) signed today a contract covering the supply, delivery, installation, capacity building, commissioning and monitoring of battery-backed solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for the three islands of Nukulaelae, Nukufetau and Nui in Tuvalu.
The PV systems aim to extend the availability of electricity in the outer islands from the current 18 hours per day to 24 hours. This will be achieved by integrating the systems with the local mini-grids, currently powered through 100% diesel-fuelled generators.
The project shall also include a fully functioning demonstration system in Funafuti. Once finalised the 191kWp project will have an immediate impact, by allowing Tuvalu to save up to 120,000 litres of diesel per year, amounting to about AU$200,000 a year in today’s prices.
Fijian-based CBS Power Solutions were awarded the contract after an open international tender process led by the Government of Tuvalu and amounting to more than AU$2 million.
The project is funded by the European Development Fund (EDF), in the framework of the EU Energy Facility.
It is part of the EU-New Zealand Energy Access Partnership, which follows on the Pacific Energy Summit that took place in Auckland in March 2013.
MEDIA RELEASE.