Samoa: First Country in the Pacific to Install Battery Energy Storage Systems

APIA, 24 JULY 2018 - Samoa has become the first country in the Pacific to install battery energy storage systems and micro grid controller.

The US$8,844,817.03 million (T$22.7m) facilities, housed at the Fiaga Power Station compound, allows the storage of electricity that is automatically injected to the grid, when there is a sudden increase in demand or sudden loss of power generated. The micro grid controller is a computer-based system. It will automatically control and regulate the operation of not only the two new battery systems, but also all the Electric Power Corporation power plants and independent solar farms.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi said the new battery storage system is about 6 MW capacity x 10,000 units of electricity storage and the other at the Faleolo International Airport is 2MW capacity x 3,400 units of electricity storage. He said the new battery systems are also part of the Government’s long term plan towards sustainable renewable energy generation of electricity. He also acknowledged the support of development partners, particularly the Asian Development Bank, the Government of Japan and JICA, Government of Australia, Government of New Zealand and the European Union.

The project is part of the Power Sector Expansion Project funded by the Asian Development Bank, Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA), Government of Australia and Government of Samoa.

More on the story can be found here.

Credit: Samoa Observer