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Entura contributes insights to Asian Development Bank report on hybrid renewables and battery energy storage in the Pacific

21 September, 2022

Entura has contributed to an Asian Development Bank report exploring challenges and recommending actions to bolster the success of hybrid renewable energy and battery storage projects in the Pacific.

The report, Hybrid and Battery Energy Storage Systems: Review and Recommendations for Pacific Island Projects, draws on 26 case studies from 9 subprojects in the Cook Islands and the Kingdom of Tonga. It highlights lessons learnt from these projects, which inform recommendations for future implementation of hybrid renewable and BESS developments in the region.

Entura’s Specialist Renewable Energy Engineer Chris Blanksby co-authored the report, having worked on many Pacific ventures funded by the Asian Development Bank, including the Tonga Renewable Energy Project (TREP) and Cook Islands Renewable Energy Sector Project (CIRESP).

“The purpose of this report is to take the learnings from these projects and consider how we can improve future renewable energy developments in the Pacific,” said Chris.

“Both Tonga and the Cook Islands have set ambitious targets for renewable energy uptake. Increasing renewable penetration in these nations will help to overcome their unique challenges, such as building climate resilience, extending electrification, reducing reliance on diesel, securing energy supply, and driving down power costs,” he said.

The report proposes three key areas of focus for future projects, including improving project design, understanding current technologies and technical gaps, identifying and implementing optimal and procurement processes.

“We have built strong relationships with the ADB and our clients in the Pacific over many years, and we are proud to contribute to increasing sustainability in the region,” said Entura’s Managing Director, Tammy Chu. 

“This report is a testament to Chris’s extensive knowledge of hybrid renewables and battery energy storage, and it’s great to see this expertise being harnessed to plan and deliver successful Pacific projects in the future.”

“We hope that our exploration of project challenges and the resulting practical recommendations will support policy-makers, power utilities and the private sector as they initiate and implement similar renewable energy and storage developments across the Pacific region,” said Chris.

Find the full report here.

Entura is a leading consultant in renewables development in Australia and the Indo-Pacific region, with significant experience in battery energy storage and hybrid renewable systems. Our services have been instrumental to the success of other hybrid renewable energy systems and BESS projects throughout Australia and in the Pacific region, including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu.