Adopting renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power is a great way to reduce emissions and produce energy locally. In places like remote Pacific islands, however, those benefits are potentially a key to independence. For that reason Tokelau, a 10 sq. km. (3.86 sq. mi) island nation that lies around 500 km (311 mi) north of Samoa and which is a territory of New Zealand, is about to ditch diesel as a source of electricity and switch to solar power.
In order to turn sunlight into electricity, Tokelau will activate 4,032 solar panels, 392 inverters and 1,344 batteries. The solar system will be spread across Tokelau’s three atolls - Fakaofo, Nukunonu, and Atafu. Special attention has been paid to the resilience and longevity of the materials due the faster wear and tear caused by the harsh tropical and marine weather conditions, besides the corrosiveness of the salty air. PowerSmart, a New Zealand-based company, is designing and installing the project, which will include one photovoltaic (PV) mini grid on each atoll.
Besides the environmental benefits, the NZ$7 million (US$5.66 million) New Zealand is investing in the project makes logistical sense as well. Because there are no flights, all transportation is done by water. The ship that covers the route to and from Samoa needs to anchor outside the reefs, from where passengers and goods are taken to shore on a landing barge.
Solar comes as an ideal solution to such a small population (1,411 people) and low power demand, which means the country will go from 0 percent to more than 90 percent renewable electricity in one fell swoop. The government estimates the solar system will prevent 12,000 tonnes (13,228 tons) of carbon dioxide from going into the atmosphere over the life of the project. For backup during long spells of cloudiness, coconut oil-powered generators will supply power and recharge the battery bank.
Many Pacific Island nations depend on fossil fuels for energy and are vulnerable to international price fluctuations. In some cases, the cost of importing fuel is higher than all export earnings combined. Tokelau burns around 200 liters (53 US gallons) of fuel every day and spends about NZ$1 million (US$0.81 million) per year shipping in the stuff. Currently, Tokelau’s population has 15 to 18 hours per day of electricity.
When the system goes live in late September after a commissioning ceremony, the Tokelau population will be at the leading edge of climate change mitigation efforts and on its way to energy independence.
Source: New Zealand Aid Programme via Celsias
Are they out of their minds? This is a nonsense token project. I'd love to hear a year from now how it is doing. Most likely half the batteries are no longer functional and dumped on some reef. Talking about pollution!
This technology requires specialised electronics, controllers and inverters where as diesel generators are simple and can be maintained by the people living there.
Of course, someone will point out that volcanic/tectonic activity has thrust these atolls out of the water and ruin my argument, but until then...what gives?
If they hadn't been subject to New Zealand* I would say they should have gone nuclear perhaps after independence.
They already have coconuts and to power a backup generator it does not take a high production level to provide adequate supplies of oil.
What makes you think that they don't have, can't hire, or can't train techs?
Assuming solid state electronics locked into airtight boxes they should be good for 25-30 years without maintenance. Nickle-iron batteries while maintenance intensive# have a real good service life.
* which is why I would have gone with the OTEC and wave power. # What has to be done is simple and automating it would not be too hard either.
American Samoa has a policy of wind power generation instead(http://www.epa.gov/region9/islands/conf04/pdf/jeff-shively.pdf) payback for PV is 18 years, since this is about independance it is not an issue. I expect a combination of wind to suppliment solar after this year and the panels to be broken up and fitted to individual homes only after the first tree has fallen on one.
I would like to elaborate:
Tokelau is burning 200 litres of fuel a day,
Diesel fuel oil density at 15oc is 885 kg/m3, 200 litres is 0.177 t
burning this fuel for 365 days in a year 0.177*365 = 64.605 t per annum
give spot price of diesel today's date in US $ per MT is $522
so 522*64.605 = $33723.81 annual cost
In the PDF I previously provided the Island is going to burn coconut oil for 10% of its power generation
Coconut oil density = 924.27 kg/m3, 200 litres is 0.184854 t
burning this fuel for 365 days in a year 0.1848*365 = 67.452 t per annum
Spot price for coconut oil in US $ per MT = 1060
so 1060*67.452 = 71499.12 – so the Island will still be burning through $7000 of coconut oil at least – but this is not imported being grown locally so will cost nothing.
Since PV pays for itself within 18 – 25 years costing for the initial solar farm must have been $607014 – 843075(ish).
Simply shipping fuel to Tokelau is costing $0.81 million per year or roughly doubling the price of diesel, replacing Diesel generators with PV will pay for itself in 8 years.
Annual shipping fee: $ 810000 Cost of diesel per annum: $33723
total over 8 years= $ 6,749,684 so Tokelau breaks even in year 7. This means it could pay for 3 more PV plants in the next 25 years with falling prices.