Alternergy Holdings Corp. and subsidiary Solar Pacific Energy Corp. inaugurated Friday the Republic of Palau’s first solar with battery energy storage system project.
The Palau Solar PV + BESS project, with a capacity of 15.3 megawatts solar PV and 12.9 MWh BESS, is one of the biggest foreign direct investments in Palau with a project cost of $29 million.
Palau Public Utilities Corp. is the offtaker or buyer of electricity of the project.
“This is a proud day for Alternergy as a Philippines-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 Pérez Jr. said.
Republic of Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr., Australian Ambassador to the Republic of Palau Richelle Turner and Alternergy, Solar Pacific and PPUC executive attended the inauguration ceremony
“We are pleased that the project will make a significant contribution to Palau in achieving its goal of 45-percent share of renewable energy in its power generation by 2025, provide 23,000 megawatt-hours of clean and renewable power as well avoid more than 10 thousand tons of carbon emissions per year,” Pérez said.
He said the project provided employment to about 300 people during construction.
“Solar Pacific appreciates the professionalism, close cooperation and full support extended by the government of Palau and PPUC to pioneering a critical energy infrastructure,” Solar Pacific chief executive and Alternergy director Mike Lichtenfeld said.
Lichtenfeld said the project had attracted strong interest from other Pacific Island nations to follow the direction of the Republic of Palau for its energy future.
“The Pacific Island nations are most vulnerable to climate change. Renewable energy will play a key role to help address this. Solar Pacific is excited to explore other opportunities in the Pacific region and our team is actively on the lookout for new projects,” Lichtenfeld said.
