Pacific's largest solar array completed in Samoa: New Zealand FM

The largest solar array in the Pacific has been completed in Samoa, helping to break the region's dependence on costly imported fossil fuels, New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced Monday.

The project, completed under a partnership of the New Zealand and Samoan governments, the European Union and the Asian Development Bank, was completed in time for the United Nations Small Islands Development States Conference, which opened in Apia Monday.

"The 2.2-megawatt photovoltaic array at the Apia Sports Complex will provide the highest electrical output from a single installation in the South Pacific," McCully, who is attending the conference, said in a statement from his office.

"Along with two other solar projects in Samoa, it is expected to meet a total of 4.5 percent of the total energy demand in Samoa and supply approximately 4,400 households. In total, New Zealand has contributed over 7.5 million NZ dollars (6.27 million U.S. dollars) towards these three projects," said McCully.

"Clean, efficient, affordable and reliable energy services are vital to sustainable economic development."

The project is one of more than 50 major energy developments aimed at moving the Pacific closer towards a goal of 50 percent renewable electricity following the 2013 Pacific Energy Summit in Auckland. Enditem