Vaitupu Scoping Study
In 2019, ITP Renewables was contracted by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) to investigate the performance of Vaitupu's power system and recommend augmentation works to improve performance and increase the contribution of renewable energy.
Vaitupu's hybrid power system (utilising solar PV, lead-acid batteries, and back-up diesel generators) was commissioned on Vaitupu, an outer island of Tuvalu in late 2015. The installation was part of the MFAT-funded Tuvalu Outer Island Solar Power Project, for which ITP provided feasibility, design and quality assurance services. The system delivered a renewable energy (RE) contribution of 94% at commissioning, but subsequent electricity demand growth and battery degradation reduced the RE contribution and increased diesel fuel use.
ITP analysed system data from 2015-2019 to understand performance and develop load growth scenarios. ITP then designed, costed, and analysed two options for augmentation of the existing system, including 1) a low-cost refurbishment involving replacement of charge controllers and lead-acid batteries with PV inverters and lithium-ion battery racks respectively, and 2) a major refurbishment to achieve >90% RE via PV system expansion and refurbishment, and BESS replacement with an integrated lithium-ion solution.
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