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UAE funded solar projects for Pacific island nations

Abu Dhabi - The inaugurations mark the completion of the two solar PV projects co-designed and managed by Masdar in cooperation with the governments of the Pacific island countries of Tuvalu and Kiribati.

Two Pacific island nations - Tuvalu and Kiribati - will this week inaugurate individual solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants funded by the UAE and developed by Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company Masdar.
Starting Wednesday, Tuvalu inaugurated a 500 kW solar PV power plant on the atoll of Funafuti. A 500 kW solar PV and water protection plant on the Tarawa atoll of the Republic of Kiribati, will also be officially inaugurated this week.
The inaugurations mark the completion of the two solar PV projects co-designed and managed by Masdar in cooperation with the governments of the Pacific island countries of Tuvalu and Kiribati.
The projects form part of the UAE's support for economic and social development of the Pacific island nations, while also showcasing the viability of sustainable clean energy development models.
The projects aim to reduce the Pacific island nations' dependency on imported diesel, freeing up essential financial resources for other developmental projects. The plant located on Funafuti - the most populated atoll that hosts the capital of the Tuvalu island nation - was funded by the $50 million UAE-Pacific Partnership Fund through the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
The majority of the system is built on a four metre structure creating 1,840 m2 of shaded public space that is limited on the atoll. In addition, it includes a new workshop-storage facility, as well as further space for office and recreational use. The Funafuti solar and space creation project will not only supply electricity to over 800 homes by yearly generating 783,000 kW, but will also save 206,000 litres of diesel each year - bringing about a saving of $280,000 and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 570 tonnes annually.
The inauguration in Tuvalu was attended by Dr Mohammed Al Qubaisi, Director of the Energy Affairs Division in the Directorate of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and Tuvalu Prime Minister the Honourable Enele Sosene Spoaga, as well as the Governor General the Honourable Otinielu Tauteleimalae Tausi.
Enele Sosene Sopoaga said: "The Solar Space Creation Project could not have come at a better time as the price of fuel has soared in recent years. This project would contribute approximately 40% towards the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation peak demand which could save more than 200,000 litres of diesel fuel per annum, about 8% of the annual fuel consumption of the Fogafale Power Station. The existing total generation capacity equals 1.8 megawatts of which 22% is by the Solar Space Creation Project".
Solar water protection project - Kiribati Development of the 500 kW solar and water protection project on Tarawa, Kiribati, started in December 2014, and completed in August this year. It will officially be inaugurated later this week. The republic, comprising 33 coral atolls, lies in the Central Pacific, and has a population of more than 100,000 - half of whom live on Tarawa atoll where the capital, South Tarawa, is situated.
The plant protects the only aquifer located on the island that has been under threat of contamination due to high levels of human migration to the area as a result of limited living space. The plant features advanced technologies to control output and will annually deliver 855,000 kWh to 860 homes.
It will cut back on more than 227,000 litres of diesel, resulting in an approximate saving of $265,000 which may be repurposed for other developmental areas. The plant will also reduce CO2 emissions by 627 tons each year. reporters@khalejtimes.com