How much will a solar PV project cost in Solomon Islands?

Component 3: US$ 2.5million to add grid-connected solar power to contribute to the overall share of renewable energy in Solomon Islands energy mix. Solomon Power has identified three possible sites for grid-connected solar PV, not all of which are likely to be funded under the Project. These include:

How does electricity work in Solomon Islands?

High tariffs from over-reliance on diesel power generation. Grid-connected electricity in Solomon Islands is generated and supplied by Solomon Power, a state-owned electricity utility company. Solomon Power provides electricity to the capital Honiara and eight isolated provincial centers on separate islands.

How will solar power benefit the Solomon Islands?

This will provide access of low-income households to electricity in Peri-urban and rural areas of Solomon Islands, and by increasing the generation capacity of renewable energy facilities (solar PV) in the Islands.

What is the Solomon power project?

The Project forms part of a broader initiative of Solomon Islands Electricity Authority (SIEA), trading as Solomon Power, the state-owned enterprise responsible for energy generation and distribution within the Solomon Islands. Solomon Power has recently started to invest in strengthening and expanding its system.

How many solar homes are there in the Solomon Islands?

“Solomon Islands currently has one of the lowest levels of access to electricity in the region, with over 85% of the population of Solomon Islands still without access to electricity and for this project alone, we received over 6,000 applications to obtain only 2,000 solar home systems,” said Mr Aimaea.

Who is responsible for implementing a project in the Solomon Islands?

Solomon Power will be the implementing agency for the project and will have overall responsibility for project management. MMERE will oversee the implementation of the project on behalf of the Solomon Islands Government.