Powering Remote Pacific Communities w/ Renewable Innovation

Powering remote Pacific communities with renewable innovations

While we in New Zealand are fortunate enough to have electricity at the flick of a switch, hundreds of remote communities around the Pacific have little access to electricity and must rely on small diesel generators, which are noisy, polluting, and have ongoing cost and supply issues for fuel.

In response to these issues, Dunedin companies Powerhouse Wind and Control Focus have joined with Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand and the Solomon Islands Association of Rural Training Centres (SIARTC), with assistance from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), on an innovative pilot project aimed at replacing diesel power with quiet and constant renewable energy systems.

The Bishop Koete Rural Training Centre on Nggela Sule Island in the Solomons has become the first community to benefit from the unique hybrid wind-solar system created by Powerhouse Wind and Control Focus for the project.

For Rural Training Centres in the country, the money saved by not having to buy costly diesel is also of huge benefit to these important education centres.

“Most of the schools in Solomon Islands use around 50% of their total yearly budget on diesel to meet their energy requirements,” says Caritas Programmes Coordinator, Marion Ferguson.

“Saving most of this each year will provide a huge increase in resources that can be used for other critical needs, such as improved dormitories for increasing numbers of female students, learning materials, library books, a reliable water supply and sanitation that would not otherwise be possible.”

To create the necessary power to replace diesel generators, the hybrid system harvests renewable energy from both wind and sun with a 2kW Thinair wind turbine (unique single blade turbine) and 4kW of Photovoltaic panels (solar panels). A lithium ion battery provides a back-up of stored energy for when there is no sun or wind, and the existing diesel generator is also coupled into the system for backup.

Managing the system and doing the necessary power conversions is a Synergi hybrid power solution from Enatel in Christchurch. This unit has some great characteristics, as all its functions are provided by ‘hot swappable’ modules. This means that a failure in any module causes a reduced system output, not a total outage, and full capacity can be restored by plugging in a replacement without stopping the system. Future changes in capacity can be met by adding or subtracting modules, as required.

“This means the power conversion equipment can be maintained by people trained to respond to alarms and diagnose, but who don’t need advanced electrical skills to repair or replace components,” says Bill Currie, Co-Director of Powerhouse Wind Ltd.

“The first system is sited at a school, so there is a great opportunity to develop and teach the skills needed to operate and maintain the equipment sustainably into the future.”

With the system now online, the success of this project could mean a bright future for many remote communities around the region as they become less dependent on fuel and are able to benefit from quiet and consistent renewable energy systems.

To arrange an interview or for more information, please contact Communications, Marketing and Fundraising Advisor Crispin Anderlini on 021 190 9908 or email to crispin@caritas.org.nz

ENDS

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