Hotel’s solar project a plus for sustainability

Fiji's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and Communications, Manoa Kamikamica, stated at the signage unveiling ceremony at Duadua Resort in Rakiraki, the commissioning of the solar power plant, and the grand opening of the community hall, that sustainable development is no longer just an option, but an imperative.

Duadua Resort, owned by investor couple Lachman and Savita Goundar, will be powered by the new solar facility, with surplus energy supplied to the national grid. This investment has been hailed as "a landmark achievement in Fiji's journey towards renewable energy."

Minister Kamikamica said, "As we transition to a low-carbon economy, projects like this play a crucial role in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and promoting environmental sustainability." He also mentioned that Duadua Solar Fiji Limited, established through this investment, is leading the way with an innovative solar system that integrates 182 solar panels divided into 13 channels. The facility generates over 600 volts of electricity daily, providing Duadua Resort with 100 kilowatts of alternating current.

Minister Kamikamica further explained that the facility has a daily backup capacity of approximately 215 kilowatts, with excess energy generated on sunny days stored for nighttime use, ensuring a reliable, stable, and sustainable power supply. Furthermore, the ability to exchange surplus energy with the Fiji Electricity Authority (EFL) grid enhances efficiency and the overall reliability of the EFL national grid.

He stated that the government remains committed to expanding renewable energy initiatives throughout Fiji, promising that EFL will be making further announcements in the coming months. Minister Kamikamica concluded, "What I would like to say is that Fiji's green transition is well underway. We are working with international partners and private sector investors to scale up solar, wind, and hydro projects, and even hydrogen projects and possible ethanol projects, to ensure that sustainable energy solutions form the bedrock of Fiji's future development."