Thursday, 27 September 2012 18:53
Written by oleung
SunWize Technologies completes island’s largest solar installation and generates 50 local jobs
SunWize recently completed the largest solar installation in the United States Territory of American Samoa in the South Pacific. The 1.75-MW installation, located in Tafuna, Pago Pago, is capable of providing the island’s 55,519 residents with 2,645,360 kWh of electricity per year.
Backed by the United States Department of Energy and the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA), the new solar electric system took over five and a half months to install. The installation marks a new beginning for the ASPA and the people it serves.
“Until now, we were completely dependent on diesel generators for all of our electrical power,” said Andra Samoa, ASPA CEO. “Our new SunWize solar installation will help alleviate that dependency by providing a much-needed green energy resource. We hope to obtain additional grant funding to install more of these clean, renewable energy sources in the near future.”
The ASPA’s new fixed ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) system consists of 7,308 Sharp 240-watt modules and AE PowerStation inverters—the largest system of its kind anywhere in the South Pacific. Because land is at a premium in American Samoa, the ASPA secured a 3.93-acre site near the island’s airport runway for the installation, reserving two additional acres as an overflow site for future growth. SunWize managed the installation’s engineering and construction and also helped the ASPA obtain all the necessary permits, taking the project from concept to reality. With only two flights in and out of American Samoa each week and shipments by boat from the United States requiring three weeks in transit, SunWize executives and project managers faced significant logistics issues.
“American Samoa’s location made this particular project uniquely challenging,” said Paul Garvison, Senior Vice President, Projects at SunWize. “Even the most basic components we needed for this project were not available on the island, and air-freight is costly. However, we created and adhered to a very strict schedule and developed strategic relationships that helped us meet our goals.”
The ASPA project faced other challenges in addition to the island’s remote location. Since the installation site is located a mere 1,100 feet from the ocean, SunWize had to engineer a custom, hot-dip galvanized racking system to withstand the extremely corrosive ocean air. The potential for 150-mile-per-hour typhoon-force winds required SunWize to secure its racking system with special wind-resistant footings that could be installed amidst the island’s volcanic rock soil and with limited concrete resources. SunWize hired a number of local subcontractors, employing 50 Samoans, to assist with the installation.
Despite having to manage a number of complex situations, Garvison and the SunWize team knew that the project’s eventual results would be exceedingly positive. American Samoa’s location near the equator receives over 1,000 watts per square meter of energy at peak hours of the day, an amount that’s ideal for solar. The estimated PV System electricity production of 2.6 million kWh/year will offset the ASPA’s diesel consumption by more than 175,000 gallons and avoid releasing 3.9 million pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Governor Tulafono supported this landmark project from inception to completion, recognizing its many environmental and socio-economic benefits. “Our new solar installation is an important step toward decreasing American Samoa’s dependence on fossil fuel, including improving energy efficiency and developing strategic renewable energy resources,” Governor Tulafono said. “The environmental benefits are significant, and the positive impact that the system will have on our island’s residents will be enjoyed for many years to come. I have no doubt that, by combining hard work and determination, we will be able to secure funding for future sustainable energy solutions that will further improve the quality of life that American Samoa has to offer.”
