What is the Palau solar battery project?

The Palau Solar Battery Project will be the largest such project in the Western Pacific. It will lessen Palau’s imported fuel dependency, a major step towards its ambitious goal of 100%.

How will solar energy be produced in Palau?

Solar electricity will be produced by a hybrid 15.3 MWdc (13.2 MWac) solar photovoltaic (PV) plus 10.2 MWac/12.9 MWh battery energy storage system facility. Extensive safeguards to protect Palau’s pristine environment SPEC did not leave any stone unturned to protect the pristine Palau ecosystem.

Does Palau rely on fossil fuels?

As a small island developing state, the Republic of Palau sought to wean itself off its dependence on fossil fuel for power, which accounts for 99.7% of the country’s power generation. To address this issue, Palau invited Solar Pacific Energy Corporation (SPEC), Alternergy’s solar developer, to develop a clean, renewable energy source.

How can Palau reduce its dependency on imported diesel?

The project is helping to reduce Palau’s dependency on imported diesel for power generation and move towards greater energy self-sufficiency through renewable sources. Over 20 percent of the construction workforce were women while 67 percent of management roles and 27 percent of engineering roles were held by women.