Alternergy And Solar Pacific Inaugurate Palau's Largest Solar PV + Battery Energy Storage System Project

Renewable power pioneer Alternergy Holdings Corp. (Alternergy) and its subsidiary Solar Pacific Energy Corporation (Solar Pacific) inaugurated the Republic of Palau's first solar PV + battery energy storage system (BESS) project and the largest to date in the Western Pacific region. Republic of Palau's President Surangel Whipps, Jr., Australian Ambassador to the Republic of Palau Richelle Turner and officials and executives of Alternergy, Solar Pacific and Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC) led the inauguration ceremony.

"This is a proud day for Alternergy as a Philippine-based company successfully inaugurating our very first renewable power project abroad. We are even more proud that our project is inaugurated today as the Republic of Palau marks its three decades of independence as a sovereign nation. Our Solar PV + BESS project is Palau's path to energy independence," Alternergy chairman Vicente S. Pérez Jr. said.

"We are pleased that the project will make a significant contribution to Palau in achieving its goal of 45 per cent share of renewable energy in its power generation by 2025, provide 23,000 MWh of clean and renewable power as well avoid more than 10 thousand tons of carbon emissions per year," he added. Mr Pérez also noted the contribution of the project in helping improve the local economy. "The project provided employment to about 300 people during construction," he said.

The Palau Solar PV + BESS project, with a capacity of 15.3 MWp solar PV and 12.9 MWh BESS, is one of the biggest foreign direct investments in the country with a total project cost of USD29 million. "Solar Pacific appreciates the professionalism, close cooperation and full support extended by the government of Palau and PPUC to pioneering a critical energy infrastructure," Mike Lichtenfeld, CEO of Solar Pacific and Alternergy director said.

Mr Lichtenfeld noted that the project has attracted strong interest from other Pacific Island nations to follow the direction of the Republic of Palau for its energy future. The Palau Solar PV + BESS project recently hosted a delegation from the Micronesia nations to look at solar as the main energy resource.

"The Pacific Island nations are most vulnerable to climate change. Renewable energy will play a key role to help address this," he said.

"Solar Pacific is excited to explore other opportunities in the Pacific region and our team is active on the lookout for new projects," Mr Lichtenfeld said.