Niue govt gets USD 4m for 200-kWp solar power project

Oct 5, 2012 - The island of Niue in the South Pacific is to build a 200-kWp solar plant with USD 4 million (EUR 3m) from the Pacific Environment Community Fund, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat said Thursday.

Niue's coordinator for the project Paul Johnson said the government planned to build a 200-kWp solar facility and connect it to the national power grid. In addition, a battery bank is to be installed to stabilise the grid and make it possible to build additional solar systems in future.

The project will be administered by the island's government, Niue Power Corporation is to provide technical support and the local private sector is to help with the installation.

Johnson said the project comes to support Niue's goal of generating 65% of its peak demand from renewable energy sources, up from 10.6% currently. The project is also expected to result in savings of NZD 137,000 (USD 113,000/EUR 87,000) a year.

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat administers the Pacific Environment Community Fund, which is financed by Japan to provide support forum island countries on environmental issues.

(NZD 1.0 = USD 0.825/EUR 0.634)

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