Tokelau islands reach 100% solar power goal

Nov 7, 2012 - The atolls of Tokelau in the South Pacific became the first territory in the world to meet almost all of its power demand with solar power via a NZD-8.5-million (USD 7m/EUR 5.5m) solar project, New Zealand's government said Monday.

The government-backed project involved the installation of three solar systems with battery storage on the three atolls of Atafu, Nukunonu and Fakaofo. A week ago New Zealand solar systems installer PowerSmart said it had wrapped up 1 MW of solar installations that can meet 150% of the current electricity needs of Tokelau.

The islands, administered by New Zealand, have a population of about 1,500 people. Up to now, electricity in the region was produced from kerosene, gasoline and other fossil fuels, as well as natural gas, all transported from New Zealand.

(NZD 1.0 = USD 0.827/EUR 0.648)

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