UK
"IT Power has considerable experience with the technological and practical issues associated with renewable energy development, carbon emission reduction and rural electrification projects. Since its formation in 1981, IT Power has completed over 1000 projects in over 100 countries."
IT Power (UK) operates a quality management system which is certified to BS EN ISO 9001:2000
By the end of May 2008, the European Union had signed off 11 contracts worth more than 6.3 million Euros to supply renewable energy and energy efficiency equipment to the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Nauru, Niue, Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). The contracts will cover off-grid and grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV), solar water heating (SWH), liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cook stoves and prepayment meter technologies.
The management of the programme is carried out by a Programme Management Unit (PMU) lead by British company IT Power. IT Power will contribute technical specifications, tendering, evaluation and contract negotiations and now will help the countries manage the contracts. The PMU will oversee the installation and commissioning of the systems and monitor them ongoing. The contracts are being implemented under the Support to the Energy Sector in Five Pacific Island States Programme (REP-5), funded by the 9th European Development Fund and executed by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
Key actors in the installations are the power utilities and government energy departments. In the Federated States of Micronesia, Yap State Public Service Corporation (YSPSC) will install two solar powered mini-grids on Asor and Fadrai islands in Ulithi atoll to complement its existing diesel generation on other outer atolls. The PV mini-grids have been designed to be expandable, therefore allowing the addition of further solar or diesel generation in the future. The mini-grids also include installation of Cashpower prepayment meters for each household to facilitate revenue collection for YSPSC and enable it to maintain the mini-grid after external funding comes to an end.
In Chuuk State and in Pohnpei State, the Chuuk Public Utility Corporation and the Department of Transport and Infrastructure of Pohnpei will respectively play key roles in the installation and maintenance of more than 10 off-grid solar PV systems for schools, health centres and administration buildings for outer islands. In Kosrae, the Kosrae Utilities Authority has signed an agreement with the state government to maintain five grid-connected systems to be installed by the REP-5 programme. Installations in FSM are expected to start in September and be completed by the end of 2008.
Installations of SWH and solar home systems (SHS) are already underway in Niue and RMI, respectively. These will supply renewable energy to more than 600 households in the two countries. The installations of the SHS in RMI are being carried out by the Marshalls Energy Company, while in Niue the SWH are being installed by local teams of plumbers who have received specialised training under the REP-5 programme. LPG cook stoves will also replace electric cookers in Niue thus reducing the electricity load for the utility.
In Palau, one of the biggest grid-connected PV system installations in the Pacific Islands will begin construction in August, as a 100 kWp solar PV system will be installed at the Capitol Building as a car park shading structure. The focus in Palau has also been on demand-side energy efficiency activities, with Palau’s Energy Office currently preparing a project to subsidise over 20,000 Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) for households.
Energy efficiency has also been the main focus of the REP-5 activities in Nauru, where 1,700 prepayment meters are to be installed for all residential and commercial customers. The prepayment meters, along with a new tariff structure, will assist the NUA in moving towards cost-recovery. To assist customers to adjust to the prepayment meters and to the increased cost of electricity, an extensive energy efficiency awareness campaign is also underway. The awareness campaign aims to familiarise the people of Nauru with the electricity consumption of their household appliances and show them ways to reduce their electricity bills. At the same time, an overall Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Nauru is being developed. Concurrently, renewable energy is being introduced to Nauru, with REP-5 funding the first grid-connected PV system on the island. The 40 kWp system will be installed on the roof of Nauru College in October 2008.
