At the end of Funafuti International Airport’s runway 21, a small roadway juts into the lagoon, making a path towards a pontoon of floating solar panels.
About 2% of the atoll’s annual power needs will be harnessed with this clean energy solution funded by the Asian Development Bank.
This initiative means that the sea which threatens Tuvalu’s existence has become a platform which will reduce reliance on fossil fuels which are a major contributor to global warming.
The AU$6million project consists of 184 x 545Watt solar panels with a solar floating mounting system and generates
174.2MWh of electricity each year. Similar projects have been implemented on the atolls of Nui, Nukufetau, and Nukulaelae.
Tuvaluan Climate Change Minister, Dr Maina Talia, said project design such as this initiative was critical for a country on the front line of the fight against climate change.
“Sustainability has always been an issue that I see here in Tuvalu and this is something that we should always take into account in terms of project design and implementation,’’ he said.
On a small atoll, there will be questions about the disposal of batteries used in this essential project. The last thing islanders want is for those batteries to cause harm at the end of their life cycle.
“How to maintain that project so that even after the implementation period, our communities can benefit from the results for the next 10-20 years,” Talia said.
Under the Tuvalu National Energy Policy, this independent nation of nine coral atolls has tried to define and direct current and future energy development and use. A national response to climate change through more efficient energy use is one of the drivers of the shift towards clean energy.
Saltwater intrusion and rising sea levels have threatened planting areas, homes, water supply and the national airport. Surging global oil prices and the cost of transporting fuel over the Pacific Ocean to this remote country have caused a renewed urgency in the search for clean energy options.
The floating solar panels will reduce fuel use by 47,100 litres of fuel per annum and put the country on the path towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 100% by 2030. According to Talia, partnerships in the area of renewable energy will help Tuvalu “build resilience and serve as an example for other vulnerable nations facing climate change.’’
