Constrained renewable energy development and lack of private sector participation. While grid-connected solar power is the least-cost renewable energy option for South Tarawa and there is significant resource potential of 554 MW, deployment has been limited.
The photovoltaic systems account for 22% of installed capacity but supply only around 9% of demand on South Tarawa; diesel generation supplies the remaining 91%. The PUB serves more than 57,000 people in South Tarawa, which has the highest demand at 24.7 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2019.
Source: ADB. III. 22. The present yearly electricity demand in South Tarawa is around 29 GWh and is expected to grow by 2% annually. The total power rating available to PUB is around 5MW, sufficient to meet the above yearly demand when all diesel generation sets are operational.
Grid-connected electricity in South Tarawa is generated and distributed by the state-owned Public Utilities Board (PUB).
The project is aligned with the following impact: renewable energy generation increased and greenhouse gas emissions reduced in Kiribati. The project will have the following outcome: generation and utilization of clean energy in South Tarawa increased.24 13. Output 1: Solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage system installed.
This is a critical natural asset for South Tarawa and the project will help to reduce the decline in water availability and water quality as well as avoid the risk of further encroachment of incompatible land uses and contamination.