The Cook Islands get their first solar plant

Transcript

A new solar plant has just been connected to the Cook Islands electricity grid in the country's first major step towards a vision of 100 per cent renewable energy sources.

The general manager of New Zealand company Infratec says the 3000 solar panel plant installed next to Rarotonga International Airport, was funded by US$3million from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Jenny Meyer asked Peter Apperley how much power the plant would generate for the community.

PETER APPERLEY: It's going to produce about five per cent of the annual demand of Rarotonga which will reduce diesel usage by about 400,000 litres per annum.

JENNY MEYER: And is this the first solar plant for the Cook Islands? Are there any plans for expansion say in some of the outer islands?

PA: It is the first of the sort of grid connected solar farms but there is currently another project being undertaken out in the northern Cook Islands by Powersmart Solar and a group of other companies.

JM: Which islands are they?

PA: There's six northern islands that are currently getting systems put in, the solar battery systems and mini grids, that's also being funded by New Zealand Foreign Affairs.

JM: So is there a hope in the future that solar will actually become the dominant power source for places like the Cook Islands? How much potential do you think it has throughout the Pacific?

PA: Renewables is I think overall is what they're looking to put into the islands to reduce diesel usage. So solar certainly is a major contributor but I know a number of the countries are looking also at other renewable technologies like wind, hydro, geothermal, biofuels, to reduce that diesel usage.

JM: What was the reaction there from Prime Minister Puna and the people there, the community, to the solar power opening?

PA: They were very pleased with how it had gone, they were very happy. You know it was the first step in their dream to get to 100 per cent renewables by 2020.

JM: Are there challenges that you see for the sustainability  of this kind of plant? Do you think it will be strong enough for example to withstand you know the cyclone season and that kind of thing?

PA: Oh certainly, one of the key things that goes in to these projects is ensuring that the design and the quality is at a level that enables them to withstand the cyclones that you would expect to have in those countries. So you know it's certainly set out in the technical specifications that we have to build to.

JM: And what about maintenance, are there sufficient people who are skilled in maintaining a plant like this?

PA: Yeah, absolutely. We have a sort of a year long contract at the start of this project but the plant will be owned and operated by Te Aponga Uira which is the utility on the island. They have very capable staff there and they've been learning off us and they'll learn off our contractors how to maintain the system and take it over, in the same way that Tonga Power is looking after their system now.