Many Pacific Island nations rely on diesel for electricity. This video explores how solar power — built to match local conditions — is helping communities reduce fuel dependence and improve access to power.
Can solar power build more resilient communities?
Lessons on building cleaner, smarter grids
16 March 2026
00:00:04:13 - 00:00:08:15
Looking at the Pacific Islands,
very heavily reliant on diesel power.
00:00:12:03 - 00:00:14:13
You've already got transmission
infrastructure.
00:00:14:13 - 00:00:14:20
Yeah.
00:00:14:20 - 00:00:17:23
And you've got a really good solar
resource on most of those islands.
00:00:17:23 - 00:00:20:03
You can build solar quite easily.
00:00:20:03 - 00:00:22:11
You don't have to do it
as fast as you do it in Australia.
00:00:22:11 - 00:00:25:13
With tracking, you can put
systems that are more durable,
00:00:25:13 - 00:00:29:12
so they require less maintenance,
which, you know, recognizes a skill set
00:00:29:12 - 00:00:30:15
that might be in a region.
00:00:30:15 - 00:00:34:00
And then you can basically change
the electrical grid to be greener.
00:00:34:07 - 00:00:36:21
We're doing what
I did not already at the moment.
00:00:36:21 - 00:00:38:09
So we do have case studies.
00:00:38:09 - 00:00:41:04
We've but lessons
learned on how to work in the region.
00:00:41:04 - 00:00:44:12
We can use what we know from there
and apply it to different nations.
00:00:44:16 - 00:00:47:03
So I think that's something
that we could really easily help with.
00:00:47:03 - 00:00:48:05
And small scale.
00:00:48:05 - 00:00:51:14
So it doesn't have to
just be joining onto the grid.
00:00:51:15 - 00:00:56:00
So you can bring in a few panels
to basically charge people's phones.
00:00:56:00 - 00:00:59:07
And then people, you know don't
have to rely on diesel to charge phones.
00:00:59:07 - 00:01:02:14
And then you got better connectivity,
you can have better education.
00:01:02:19 - 00:01:04:07
And then that increases equity,
00:01:04:07 - 00:01:08:11
not just in keeping your lights on,
but then creating value for the future.
Looking at the Pacific Islands,
very heavily reliant on diesel power.
00:00:12:03 - 00:00:14:13
You've already got transmission
infrastructure.
00:00:14:13 - 00:00:14:20
Yeah.
00:00:14:20 - 00:00:17:23
And you've got a really good solar
resource on most of those islands.
00:00:17:23 - 00:00:20:03
You can build solar quite easily.
00:00:20:03 - 00:00:22:11
You don't have to do it
as fast as you do it in Australia.
00:00:22:11 - 00:00:25:13
With tracking, you can put
systems that are more durable,
00:00:25:13 - 00:00:29:12
so they require less maintenance,
which, you know, recognizes a skill set
00:00:29:12 - 00:00:30:15
that might be in a region.
00:00:30:15 - 00:00:34:00
And then you can basically change
the electrical grid to be greener.
00:00:34:07 - 00:00:36:21
We're doing what
I did not already at the moment.
00:00:36:21 - 00:00:38:09
So we do have case studies.
00:00:38:09 - 00:00:41:04
We've but lessons
learned on how to work in the region.
00:00:41:04 - 00:00:44:12
We can use what we know from there
and apply it to different nations.
00:00:44:16 - 00:00:47:03
So I think that's something
that we could really easily help with.
00:00:47:03 - 00:00:48:05
And small scale.
00:00:48:05 - 00:00:51:14
So it doesn't have to
just be joining onto the grid.
00:00:51:15 - 00:00:56:00
So you can bring in a few panels
to basically charge people's phones.
00:00:56:00 - 00:00:59:07
And then people, you know don't
have to rely on diesel to charge phones.
00:00:59:07 - 00:01:02:14
And then you got better connectivity,
you can have better education.
00:01:02:19 - 00:01:04:07
And then that increases equity,
00:01:04:07 - 00:01:08:11
not just in keeping your lights on,
but then creating value for the future.
Short, sharp points of view on:
- Why existing infrastructure and solar resources make deployment easier
- How durable systems reduce maintenance and support local skill sets
- What small-scale setups can do for phone charging and connectivity
- How solar access supports education and long-term equity
This video shows how targeted solar deployment is creating real value for island communities, on and off the grid.
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