The relationship between photovoltaic and energy storage in Palau

Solar electricity will be produced by a hybrid 15.3 MWdc (13.2 MWac) solar photovoltaic (PV) plus 10.2 MWac/12.9 MWh battery energy storage system facility. Extensive safeguards to protect Palau's pristine environment SPEC did not leave any stone unturned to protect the pristine Palau ecosystem.

The results show that on top of the 2.5 MW of solar PV currently present in Palau, an additional 83 MW of solar PV and 20 MW of wind turbines would be required for such a system. Furthermore, this scenario would necessitate a battery storage system of 168 MWh and battery inverters of 34 MW.

The Palau Solar Battery Project will be the largest such project in the Western Pacific. It will lessen Palau's imported fuel dependency, a major step towards its ambitious goal of 100%.

The project, which is also Palau's first grid-scale solar PV plant, will contribute significantly to the country's nationally self-determined contribution to meeting global climate targets as agreed in the Paris Accord. These include reaching 35% renewable energy, and reducing energy sector emissions to 22% below 2005 levels, by 2025.

A key recommendation for the government, if it is to achieve its proposed target of a 100% share for renewables by 2050, is to accelerate deployment of solar PV and battery storage systems through a combination of Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC) investments and power purchase agreements (PPAs).

As a small island developing state, the Republic of Palau sought to wean itself off its dependence on fossil fuel for power, which accounts for 99.7% of the country's power generation. To address this issue, Palau invited Solar Pacific Energy Corporation (SPEC), Alternergy's solar developer, to develop a clean, renewable energy source.