Abu Dhabi’s state-owned renewable energy company Masdar has announced the inauguration of a series of renewable energy projects in the Pacific Island countries and territories, made possible by the $50 million UAE-Pacific Partnership Fund (UAE-PPF).
The five small-scale solar energy projects will be spread across five island nations from May 10-15; namely Solomon Islands, Nauru, the Marshall Islands, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Once inaugurated, the Cycle 2 projects will deliver a total of 3.1 megawatts of clean energy and will displace over 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year. This will ensure a saving on 1.6 million litres of diesel fuel per annum, which will support the Islands’ efforts to meet individual renewable energy targets, as well as diversify its energy mix.
The projects are designed to drive economic growth and sustainable development across the islands, in addition to job creation and capacity-building efforts. The first cycle of the fund saw Masdar complete small-scale solar and wind projects in Kiribati, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Highlights included cyclone-proof wind turbines, space-optimising solar solutions, and plants providing 50 percent of local energy requirements.
Commenting on the upcoming completion of the projects, Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar said, “The projects coming online as part of Cycle 2 of the UAE-Pacific Partnership Fund represent a model for what the public and private sectors can achieve by working together. With the support of our UAE partners and the governments of the island nations, Masdar has been able to deploy innovative, small-scale projects that meet the needs of the local communities.
“Through these projects, Masdar is not only helping to advance socio-economic growth, but it is also showcasing a new delivery model for advancing the global sustainability agenda and taking action on climate change.”
Further to environmental benefits, as part of the UAE-PPF’s requirements, Masdar has trained the operators of the power generation assets, thereby supporting capacity-building and skills training in the local communities and enhancing the capacity of existing regional contractors to deliver renewable energy projects.
Khaled Ballaith, Director of the Masdar Special Projects team, said: “The Pacific islands are among the most remote, inaccessible places on Earth, and the needs of the communities vary tremendously from island to island. I am proud that our team has been able to deliver innovative, bespoke solutions to the five islands in Cycle 2, building on the best practices learned from Cycle 1 projects and projects implemented elsewhere.”