The island of Oahu in Hawaii is home to one of the largest solar farms in the Pacific. This solar farm, built by Eurus Energy America Corp, is located on 200 acres of land in west Oahu. The Waianae Solar Farm delivers 27.6MW of power to the island, enough power to serve over 4,000 homes.
The Republic of Palau is an island nation looking to reduce its reliance on conventional power production from diesel generators, and convert more of its power supply to renewable energy, such as solar power. The Palau Public Utility Corporation (PPUC) currently spends 70% of its operating budget on purchasing fuel for its diesel generators. Reducing these costs, as well as reducing the carbon footprint produced by burning of imported diesel oil to create power is a high priority for an island nation directly impacted by climate change and rising sea levels.
Mr. Kione Isechal, P.E., the general manager of the PPUC, recently teamed with ISLE to tour the Waianae Solar Farm, to better understand the potential for bringing renewable energy to Palau. Mr. Rob Davey, Plant Operator, shared his experience and passion for renewable energy and carbon footprint reduction as exemplified by the Waianae Solar Farm with Mr. Isechal and Ron Gonzales, P.E. of ISLE to help Palau determine how best to harness the free and clean power of the sun.
Mr. Isechal was impressed that the Waianae Solar Farm was so efficient, that it required only 1 full time operator, yet produced more that twice the amount of power needed to provide all the power needs of the entire nation of Palau. The 200 acre site is only required to deliver 27.6MW of power to Oahu, but has capacity to generate 40MW. No fuel purchases, no engines emitting pollutants to the air, no potential for oil spills, no noise pollution…. these are only some of the benefits, not even considering the lower costs of power produced for the power customers versus power costs from diesel power generation. At the conclusion of the tour, Mr. Isechal noted, “As Palau works diligently to reduce our carbon emissions and meet our Nationally Determined Contribution ( NDC) as result of the Paris Agreement, we hope to have further discussion on renewable energy and its development in Palau.”
ISLE is encouraged by the direction that PPUC and other utility providers in the Pacific are taking in pursuing renewable and sustainable energy sources, such as solar power, a resource that is in no greater abundance than in the tropical Pacific.
