The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Tuvalu inaugurated a 500-kilowatt on-grid solar rooftop system and a 2-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) in Funafuti. This initiative aims to deliver clean, reliable electricity to Tuvalu’s capital, marking a significant step in the nation’s renewable energy progress.
The commissioning event, held in Funafuti, was led by Acting Minister of Transport, Energy, Communication, and Innovation Tuafafa Latasi. Prominent ADB officials, including Pacific Subregional Office Regional Director Aaron Batten, Senior Country Officer Letasi Iulai, and Energy Sector Group Director Cindy Tiangco attended the ceremony.
Mr. Batten said, “The completed project is helping the government to transform energy supply in Funafuti and the outer islands from a manual diesel-based power system into a modern automated high renewable energy-based power system.”
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Expanding Solar Power Across Tuvalu
The Tuvalu Increasing Access to Renewable Energy Project is the first ADB initiative in Tuvalu’s energy sector. The Pacific Renewable Energy Investment Facility implemented the project, funding it with $6 million. Besides the Funafuti system, the project team completed solar PV installations in the outer islands of Nui, Nukufetau, and Nukulaelae.
To further Tuvalu’s renewable energy ambitions, the ADB approved $7.8 million in additional financing in December 2023. This financing includes contributions from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Ireland Trust Fund for Building Climate Change Resilience, and the Urban Resilience Trust Fund, which the United Kingdom supports.
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Pacific’s First Floating Solar Project in Progress
The new funding will support the Pacific region’s first near-shore marine floating solar PV system in Funafuti’s Te Namo Lagoon. This innovative FPV project integrates climate-adapted features, offering coastal protection and reef regeneration solutions while advancing renewable energy generation.
The project’s objectives extend beyond energy production. Tuvalu aims to reduce diesel reliance, lower generation costs, improve power reliability, and enhance grid resilience against climate impacts.