For the first time the SMA Fuel Save Solution, which combines diesel gensets and photovoltaics in a hybrid system, has been realised in the APAC region. The Tongan island of Vava'u now benefits from reduced energy costs, while minimising its dependence on fossil fuel. The system solution incorporates the SMA Fuel Save Controller, which enables the smart integration of photovoltaics while leaving the diesel gensets unaffected. An additional storage unit ensures that environmental challenges like cloud cover are not a problem. The PV diesel hybrid system will offset up to 70 percent of Vava'u's electricity demand during the day and approximately 13 percent of the annual demand of the Island.
The new solar farm includes ground-mounted photovoltaic panels and battery storage technology that is fully integrated with the island's diesel power station. The 500kW system has the capacity to produce 873MWh of energy per annum and is projected to offset an average of 225,000 litres of diesel each year. The system comprises 21 SMA Sunny Tripower 20000TL inverters, 15 SMA Sunny Backup 5000 inverters and the SMA Fuel Save Controller. "SMA is proud to be an integral part of the system at Vava'u, helping the Tongan government to reduce its fossil fuel dependency,"said Mark Twidell, Managing Director of SMA Australia. "This project benefits from the SMA Fuel Save Solution which stabilises the grid and prevents system failures."
"The SMA Fuel Save Solution enables state of the art integration of PV into diesel genset systems without compromising operational readiness, reliability or fuel efficiency," explains Rodger Whitby, General Manager Generation of the Australian solar power company Ingenero, who installed the solar farm.
Vava'u is the collective name for a chain of one large island and 40 smaller ones in Tonga, in the South Pacific Ocean. The main island of Vava'u covers an area of almost 90 square kilometres and is the second largest island in Tonga. Traditionally Vava'u relied on diesel generators for its electricity needs, but the development of a hybrid energy system was initialised in an effort to reduce fuel costs and CO2 emissions. The Tonga Energy Road Map (TERM) strives to meet the target to supply 50 percent of the Kingdom's power demand from renewable energy sources by the year 2020. The project was developed by Abu Dhabi based renewable energy company Masdar and is financed through a grant provided by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the "Company") or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the "SMA Group") nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the Managing Board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.
The new solar farm includes ground-mounted photovoltaic panels and battery storage technology that is fully integrated with the island's diesel power station. The 500kW system has the capacity to produce 873MWh of energy per annum and is projected to offset an average of 225,000 litres of diesel each year. The system comprises 21 SMA Sunny Tripower 20000TL inverters, 15 SMA Sunny Backup 5000 inverters and the SMA Fuel Save Controller. "SMA is proud to be an integral part of the system at Vava'u, helping the Tongan government to reduce its fossil fuel dependency,"said Mark Twidell, Managing Director of SMA Australia. "This project benefits from the SMA Fuel Save Solution which stabilises the grid and prevents system failures."
"The SMA Fuel Save Solution enables state of the art integration of PV into diesel genset systems without compromising operational readiness, reliability or fuel efficiency," explains Rodger Whitby, General Manager Generation of the Australian solar power company Ingenero, who installed the solar farm.
Vava'u is the collective name for a chain of one large island and 40 smaller ones in Tonga, in the South Pacific Ocean. The main island of Vava'u covers an area of almost 90 square kilometres and is the second largest island in Tonga. Traditionally Vava'u relied on diesel generators for its electricity needs, but the development of a hybrid energy system was initialised in an effort to reduce fuel costs and CO2 emissions. The Tonga Energy Road Map (TERM) strives to meet the target to supply 50 percent of the Kingdom's power demand from renewable energy sources by the year 2020. The project was developed by Abu Dhabi based renewable energy company Masdar and is financed through a grant provided by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the "Company") or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the "SMA Group") nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the Managing Board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.
