PowerSmart wraps up 1-MW PV project in Tokelau

Oct 30, 2012 - New Zealand solar systems installer PowerSmart on Monday said it had completed an 1-MW photovoltaic (PV) project, comprising three off-grid solar systems with battery storage, in Tokelau in the South Pacific Ocean.

The solar systems include a total of 4,032 PV panels, 392 inverters and 1,344 batteries spread on each of the three atolls of Tokelau, which has a population of 1,500 people. The systems will together generate enough power to meet 150% of the current electricity needs of Tokelau, although the tender specification required the systems to supply 90% of demand, said PowerSmart, which is the lead contractor for the NZD-7.5-million (USD 6.2m/EUR 4.8m) project.

PowerSmart started work on the project in June in collaboration with energy consultancy IT Power Australia. The first system was switched on in August, the second in September and the last one was wrapped up over the weekend. The project, funded by a soft loan from New Zealand Aid, was completed on time and budget.

So far, Tokelau has been spending more than NZD 1 million per year on over 2,000 barrels of diesel to generate electricity, PowerSmart added.

(NZD 1 = USD 0.821/EUR 0.635)

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