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Kiribati
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Solar Energy Company
Ministry of Works and Energy
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The choices for power generation
in Kiribati are presently limited to imported fossil fuel and solar
energy. Solar energy is an abundant source of energy readily available,
but its use at the present stage of technological development is limited
only to private use in rural areas where the average demand per household
is less than 1 kWh.
PV systems constitute a relatively simple and inexpensive means for
providing the energy needed by rural inhabitants. Its main advantages
are:
• It does not require construction of an interconnecting grid;
• It has little potential for environmental damage if means for
recycling failed batteries is provided;
• It only requires a one-time capital investment, with low operating
and maintenance costs;
• The modular systems can be specifically sized to fit the needs
of individual households.
The Government of Japan funded the installation of 55 solar PV systems
in Kiribati in 1992. In 1994, 250 additional solar PV systems were installed,
funded by the European Union. Users have to pay a fee, while the systems
themselves are property of the electric company.
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Energy resources (Chapter VII of the Barbados
Programme of
Action)
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• The systems installed have shown
to be effective. Of the 250 PV lightning systems installed on the outer
islands of Kiribati in 1994, more than 95 per cent were efficiently
working after five years of operation.
• The success of the PV lighting systems has changed the public
perception towards PV systems, confirmed by the increase of solar product
sales to private individuals.
• The rural population is now aware of the benefits of using solar
PV systems at an affordable price. School children can now do their
homework at night. Social life has improved as the availability of light
has enabled church groups and private individuals to get together at
night.
• 13 full-time and 14 part-time jobs have been created in Kiribati
as a direct result of this project.
• Some CO2 emissions have been avoided, for the alternative to
the PV systems would have been fossil fuel powered.
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The use of solar energy for rural electrification
can easily serve as a model for other countries with minor modifications
to fit local conditions. The following factors have to be considered:
• The number of households must be carefully determined so that
viability of the project is maintained. For example, in the case of
Kiribati, the number of systems should be no less than 50 to allow for
a proper maintenance of the systems.
• A back-up service should be provided so that the systems are
properly maintained. A site technician should be recruited to reduce
the cost of maintaining the systems. In the case of Kiribati, one field
technician can properly maintainup to 125 systems.
• The level of income of the households in the targeted area must
be determined to ensure that they can afford to pay the fee. In Kiribati,
a fee of $15 a month is affordable by themajority of population in the
rural area.
• The connection of additional appliances like refrigerators and
VCRs, apart from lights and radios, must be carefully evaluated so that
the resultant fee is still affordable to the users.
• Training of technicians in charge of maintenance is crucialto
the success of the project.
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Solar Energy Company (SEC)
P.O. Box 493
Betio, Tarawa
Kiribati
Tel.: (686) 26058
Fax: (686) 26210
E-mail: sec@tskl.net.ki
Ministry of Works and Energy
P.O. Box 498
Betio, Tarawa
Kiribati
Tel.: (686) 24192
Fax: (686) 26172
E-mail: works&energy@tskl.net.ki
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