Transcript
ROBIN PENE: To compliment that we're also looking at biogas as another good option. There are several good examples here in Samoa that would fit perfectly in for Tokelau. Because we have quite a large number of pigs out there.
DOMINC GODFREY: So methane generation?
RP: Yes. So if we can produce enough methane that'd help us. We'd probably achieve 100 percent plus if we could develop that. Because we could also bring in the energy waste - the village grey water as well.
DG: So you mix the grey water as well with the pig manure. I'm assuming you capture that in tanks and that's how you capture and harness the methane?
RP: That's right, yes. The example I've seen there is they use the gas directly from the waste tank and that's pumped directly into the building with as little as 40 pigs it can produce enough gas to provide the village. They have a communal kitchen there.
DG: Gas cooking facilities?
RP: Yes, and also they run their gas lights on it as well. Out of 14 pigs there, they produce, on average, 5 cubic metres a day which is sufficient for their cooking and lighting.
DG: That's magnificent.
RP: I looked at that and thought, that's got to be a thing for us in Tokelau. I've presently got sa person out there from the United Nations and he's assessing the possibility of biogas out there right now actually.
DG: That's for your funding model is it?
RP: Not at the moment - not the biogas. The project I've got at the moment is to update the supply in the village. The system we have at the moment is getting run down and it's inadequate due to the increased consumer demand now that people are getting used to 24/7 power. As you can imagine the number of appliances on the island is getting to a point where it's overloading the system. Last year in August/ September last year we increased the TV capacity by 33 kilowatts and one more battery bank to overcome the excessive battery demand we had. That's relieved the poor old batteries which were getting flogged a bit. So that will extend the life of them.
DG: How long did these battery banks last and so on?
RP: Manufacturers estimate about ten years if you look after them. Now I've heard stores of not to expect more than six years. But there's also an example on an island here in Samoa, they've had solar power for the last 16 years and they're still using the same old battery banks. There's a contrast there, so we're hoping to maintain them properly. The batteries are holding their own, it's just that the rising demand is causing us to have to use probably diesel generation a little bit more than we normally would.
DG: Yeah, people getting used to their luxuries and they're starting to take them for granted and of course demand increases.
RP: That's right. It's a bit of an ongoing battle we've got a small programme going where we try and educate people to be more conservative and we also show them how to use it correctly and also the safety aspect as well. It has had a considerable effect I feel, but we just have to keep reminding them.
