It's Time to power Pacific Island schools

Hanwha Q CELLS Australia recently teamed up with the It’s Time Foundation to install solar PV systems in two remote Pacific Island schools by donating 40 x Q/PRO-G2 235 W panels.

It’s Time Foundation was established by Rob Edwards following a trip to Fiji. He learned that most of the schools in the Pacific Islands depend on diesel generators for electricity, which are bad for both the environment and the schools’ finances. Students usually have access to power for only a few hours each week, while most schools don’t have the funds to buy many or any computers for student use.

“I just wandered into a school to meet people and found the school principal frantically typing into his laptop trying to make use of the last of the generator power,” said Edwards. “I have a need to try to help people solve a problem if it needs to be solved, so I set up the It’s Time Foundation.”

Edwards has completed five projects so far, with installations at Wainimakutu High and Lavena Primary recently completed and Namamanuca Primary School two-thirds funded. CBS Power Solutions claims the Wainimakutu project is “the largest and highest quality solar installation of any school in Fiji”, Edwards said.

Hanwha Q CELLS Australia joined the team as soon as the company heard about the foundation, with managing director Oliver Hartley saying, “Everyone should be able to harness the sun’s rays to live in a more sustainable and efficient way.”

Edwards said all the company’s suppliers offer premium products, meaning the installations will have longevity. He added, “Q CELLS modules are tested to withstand Australia’s harsh sun, as well as humid and high-wind conditions, which makes them perfect for Pacific Island installations.”

Each project uses Clenergy mounting systems and has a Q CELLS array attached to two SMA inverters. The array feeds power to a grid inverter, which feeds directly to the school. The unused power is fed to a remote inverter that converts the power so that it can be stored in large Powerstack batteries.

In addition to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from diesel generation, Edwards also commits to installing energy-efficient lighting. At Wainimakutu High, he took out approximately 2900 W of lighting and replaced it with 550 W of LED globes and tubes for the equivalent amount of light. He also tailors an energy-efficiency and rationing education plan for each school, so diesel generation is limited to occasional evening backup.

For more information and to donate to the foundation, visit www.iitime.org.