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The Government of Tuvalu worked with the e8 group to develop the Tuvalu Solar Power Project, which is a 40 kW grid-connected solar system that is intended to provide about 5% of Funafuti 's peak demand, and 3% of the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation's annual household consumption.
The Tuvalu National Energy Policy (TNEP) was formulated in 2009, and the Energy Strategic Action Plan defines and directs current and future energy developments so that Tuvalu can achieve the ambitious target of 100% renewable energy for power generation by 2020.
Tuvalu's power has come from electricity generation facilities that use imported diesel brought in by ships. The Tuvalu Electricity Corporation (TEC) on the main island of Funafuti operates the large power station (2000 kW).
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or uninterruptible power source is an electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to a load when the input power source or mains power fails.
UPS systems are cheaper upfront. But their batteries wear out faster and aren’t designed for daily use. BESS systems are more expensive initially, but they offer long-term savings through energy arbitrage, grid incentives, and durability (especially with lithium iron phosphate batteries). Which One Should You Choose?
For large power units, dynamic uninterruptible power supplies (DUPS) are sometimes used. A synchronous motor/alternator is connected on the mains via a choke. Energy is stored in a flywheel. When the mains power fails, an eddy-current regulation maintains the power on the load as long as the flywheel's energy is not exhausted.
They use UPS for surge protection and instant switchovers and BESS to run for 8+ hours during blackouts, powered by solar. The company uses BESS to flatten peak loads and reduce utility bills by 25%, while UPS protects conveyor belts from sudden shutdowns. UPS and BESS both play critical roles, but in different ways.
