NZ company turns on first Tokelau solar system - battery storage systems
A New Zealand solar company has opened the first of three solar systems installed in the South Pacific country Tokelau.
Mount manugani-
The Powersmart Solar-based company is the main contractor for the renewable energy project, which wants to see Tokelau replace diesel power systems with Solar systems and battery storage.
Consisting of three atoll islands
Fakaofu, nukonu and Atafu
Fakaofo is the first company to realize full solar power this week.
Director Mike Bassett
The project will make Tokelau the first project to generate full solar power, Smith said.
Power nation on Earth
"This system is the biggest one.
The world's largest solar power generation system and the largest solar system in the South Pacific that is being installed.
"After opening the first system on the Fakaofo, construction work will now begin on the second atoll.
Foreign Minister McCully said the opening of the first system was "an important milestone in the project ".
When the three systems are fully operational at the end of the year, they will provide nearly 100 of the Cayman Islands electricity, he said.
"Many of our Pacific neighbors rely on expensive imported diesel to generate electricity, which is an obstacle to the development of the economy.
"New Zealand is committed to supporting this roll
He said renewable energy technologies in the territory of New Zealand, Tokelau and the Pacific.
The Tokelau Renewable Energy Project is funded by the New Zealand Assistance Programme and supported by the government of Tokelau.
"New Zealand has paid Tokelau $7 million in advance to fund the installation of these systems," McCully said . ". Bassett-
Smith says there are problems with the financial and environmental costs of diesel throughout the Pacific
Energy generated
"Energy costs are the basis for economic and social development in these countries.
"At present, Tokelau's diesel generators burn about 200 liters of fuel per day.
About 2000 barrels are shipped from New Zealand each year at a cost of NZ $1 m.
Foua Toloa, Minister of Government at Tokelauan, said the shift to solar energy from the use of fossil fuels and the need to bring barrels to the atoll would be a major change.
"It avoids expenses, but it also takes them there, which is dangerous and any leakage will affect the environment.
"Once the work is completed, Tokelau will replace the diesel generator with 4032 solar panels, 392 inverters and 1344 batteries, weighing 250 kg lbs per battery.
The new solar power system will be able to survive a hurricane of 230 km/h.
Powersmart recently ranked 14 in the New Zealand Herald Green 50 New Zealand environmental protection enterprises list.
With a total land area of 10 km square meters, about 1400 people currently have access to electricity for about 16 hours a day.
Customization of Powersmart
The company said the designed solar system would provide 150 of the country's current electricity demand.
During a long period of cloud cover, the generator running using coconut oil will power the battery pack and charge it at the same time.
Powersmart has partnered with Australian IT Power on this project.