Sixty per cent of households in Papua New Guinea are now using solar energy, compared with just two per cent seven years ago, according to a recent International Finance Corporation report. What’s driving this extraordinary growth? asks Kevin McQuillan.
A new Chairman for Solar Solutions, and a new board for KAL
Improved access to finance could the rapid development of solar power, according to Jon Pittar, Managing Director of solar provider, Solar Solutions PNG. If the government is to achieve its energy goal of giving access to power to 70 per cent of the population by 2030, he believes solar-powered systems must be provided to rural communities.
Papua New Guinea has the perfect climate for solar, and is the key to achieving an ambitious government plan to bring electricity to the 70 per cent of Papua New Guineans who currently don’t have access by 2030, according to Rick Hooper, Chief Executive Officer of Sydney-based solar company, Barefoot Power.