Renewable power pioneer Alternergy Holdings Corporation and its subsidiary Solar Pacific Energy Corporation have inaugurated Republic of Palau’s first solar PV plus battery energy storage system (BESS) project and the largest to date in the Western Pacific region. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the firm said Republic of Palau’s President Surangel Whipps, Jr., Australian Ambassador to the Republic of Palau Richelle Turner and officials and executives of Alternergy, Solar Pacific and Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC) led the inauguration ceremony. “This is a proud day for Alternergy as a Philippine-based company successfully inaugurating our very first renewable power project abroad,” Alternergy Chairman Vicente S. Pérez Jr. said. He noted that, “We are even more proud that our project is inaugurated today as the Republic of Palau marks its three decades of independence as a sovereign nation. Our Solar PV plus BESS project is Palau’s path to energy independence.” “We are pleased that the project will make a significant contribution to Palau in achieving its goal of 45 percent share of renewable energy in its power generation by 2025, provide 23,000 MWh of clean and renewable power as well avoid more than 10 thousand tons of carbon emissions per year,” Perez added. He also noted the contribution of the project in helping improve the local economy as it provided employment to about 300 people during construction. The Palau Solar PV plus BESS project, with a capacity of 15.3 MWp solar PV and 12.9 MWh BESS, is one of the biggest foreign direct investments in the country with a total project cost of USD29 million. “Solar Pacific appreciates the professionalism, close cooperation and full support extended by the government of Palau and PPUC to pioneering a critical energy infrastructure,” Alternergy Director and Solar Pacific CEO Mike Lichtenfeld. He noted that the project has attracted strong interest from other Pacific Island nations to follow the direction of the Republic of Palau for its energy future. The Palau Solar PV plus BESS project recently hosted a delegation from the Micronesia nations to look at solar as main energy resource. “The Pacific Island nations are most vulnerable to climate change. Renewable energy will play a key role to help address this. Solar Pacific is excited to explore other opportunities in the Pacific region and our team is actively on the lookout for new projects,” Lichtenfeld said.