The new Lungga Power Station

The old Lungga Power Station

Furthermore to improve the reliability Solomon Power invested in a new 11 kV switchboard, two 1.6 MW diesel generators and two new power transformers at Honiara Power Station.

New engines at the new Lungga Power Station

The new switchboard at the new Lungga Power Station

2. SOLOMON POWER HQ refurbishment project

Phase I

Phase I of this project is the newly refurbished office which had been completed in late 2014 for a sum of $8m. Phase I involves a complete makeover of SP’s main administration office in Ranadi. It included the remodeling and furnishing of the Customer and Corporate services offices, Finance and Engineering offices, a Corporate archive space, a Board room, Training room and a Staff cafe.

Newly refurbished Head Office building

Lunch time in the new staff cafeteria

The remodeling work provides an open workspace that promotes more interaction between staff at all levels. A drive through window where customers can pay for their cash power tokens was introduced to reduce queues and at the same time improve customer services. Under phase I as well, a pilot project funded by JICA for introduction of grid-connected PV generation totaling 50 kW was mounted on the car garage and fed directly into the grid supplying the office.

Phase II

Phase II of the project, which included landscaping and upgrading of the car park area with designated parking spaces for customers and staff with an improved site access and drainage system. The works were carried out by Humphrey Engineering and completed in May 2016.

Phase II in progress

Phase III

Phase III, involved improvements to the Stores and Distribution workshop, additional office space for Engineering and Planning including the construction of a Meter Testing Room. MP Construction   executed the works under a contract. This phase was completed and commissioned end August 2017.

3. UAE/NZ Funded 1MW Solar Farm project.
Going forward, SP is investing in clean and renewable energy sources. Following the 2013 feasibility study investigating the development of a 1MW grid-connected solar power station, UAE and NZ government cofounded the development of a 1MW solar farm project at Fighter 1, Henderson.

The plant will save SP approximately US$880k per annum in diesel cost and help reduce the cost of electricity. The project was completed and commissioned on the 10th May 2016.

The 1 MW Solar Farm at Henderson

The project was completed and commissioned on the 10^th May 2016.

4. Outstations Upgrade Project

The principal aim of the Outstation Generation Project is for the supply and installation of new generators in selected outstations to upgrade and improve the current generation capability and reliability which will allow future growth demands in the provinces to be met. On top of that a new power station was built in Gizo and the existing Noro station refurbished and upgraded to meet industry standards.

Northpower of New Zealand was awarded the contract to supply the Generators for the selected outstations. The generators were tested and configured in Honiara and shipped out to the provinces in 2016.

a. Gizo power station upgrade project.

This project involves the construction of a new power station on the existing site and the supply and installation of 3 new 500KW generators, associated switchgear and transformers. The power station works was carried out by Hatanga Ltd and completed in June 2016. All the three generators and associated transformers and switchgear have been commissioned.

Three new generators at Gizo;

b. Noro power station upgrade works

Noro power station was built and commissioned in the late 80’s and have not undergone major maintenance since. This project involves major refurbishment of the station totaling over $3m and the installation of 3 new 500KW generators and associated switchgears and transformers.

The upgrade of the building was completed late December 2016. All the generators and associated switchgear and transformers have been commissioned early September 2017.

c. Munda power station upgrade

The project involves installation and commissioning of a 250 kW Kohler make generator and associated switchgear. All the works have been completed and the generator and associated switchgear and transformer were put into service end August 2017.

d. Auki power station upgrade

The 2 new Kohler make 500 kW Generators with 1 x LV Switchboard and 2 x Step up Transformers in Auki were commissioned on 27/11/16, one and a half weeks ahead of scheduled completion date.

e. Tulagi power station upgrade

The upgrade in Tulagi consisted of two new Kohler make 250 kW generators and also associated switchgear. These new assets were commissioned in September 2016.

Tulagi Outstation with the two new generators and a new switchboard

5. Buala Mini Hydro refurbishment

This project involved the refurbishment of the dam site, replacement of the alternator, repairs to the runners of the turbine and the penstock. The 150 kW hydro plant was commissioned in May 2016.

Hydro generator at Buala

6. Feeder 12 relocation, Upgrade to Ranadi Substation and new Kola’a Ridge Substation

These projects are funded under the World Bank Solomon Islands Sustainable Energy Project. The scope includes relocation of feeder 12 from Lungga Power Station to East Honiara Substation; upgrade of Ranadi Substation (includes replacement of the two 33/11 kV transformers and new 11 and 33 kV switchgear and associated protection and control) and design and construction of a new injection point at Kola’a Ridge by building a new substation, procurement and installation  new 33/11 kV transformer, associated 33 kV and 11 kV switchgear and protection and control.

These works are being carried out under a contract with UGL, New Zealand and is expected to be completed in 2019

7. Network Extensions in Honiara

The project to extend the 11 kV and 415 V network in the Tinge Ridge, Baranamba/Ohuiola, Tasahe B, 7 Up, Green Valley/Mt Austin and Lungga/Markwarth, Tinge and GBR areas of Honiara have been completed. The extensions at Redbeach and Foxwood are in progress.

In addition to the above locations we also have commenced a project to extend the network at Buala, Dunde (Munda), Mbaru (Noro), Kilusakwalo (Auki), Ngalimera, Henderson, Henderson DC Park, Kombivatu, Lio Creek and Amaville.This project has already commenced and will be completed by 30 June 2018.

8. Hybrid Generation systems in Seghe and Taro

This project commenced in late 2015 to construct two new mini hybrid outstations. This is the first time in 31 years that Solomon Power is constructing a new outstation the last one being in Malu’u.

The scope includes solar panels, battery storage system, back up diesel generator and 415 V distribution network to connect about 200 customers at each of these sites in Western Province and Choiseul Province. The works are being carried out by Clay Energy.

Both Seghe and Taro Hybrid systems were successfully commissioned in July 2017.

Installing solar panels at Taro

The Solar Farm on Taro Island

9. Conversion of five existing outstations diesel generation systems into hybrid generation systems

This project is to convert the existing diesel generation at our outstations at Kirakira, Lata, Malu’u, Munda and Tulagi to hybrid generation systems. The total renewable generation planned is 2 MW and on completion will displace diesel consumption and assist Solomon Power to reduce the price of electricity.

10. SOLOMON ISLANDS ELECTRICITY ACCESS AND RENEWABLE ENERGY EXPANSION (EAREEP) PROJECT (PHASE II)

The Solomon Islands Electricity Access and Renewable Energy Expansion Project (SIEAREEP) (Phase II) – the project – comprises of the following three components:

• Component 1 – Hybrid mini-grids
• Component 2 – Connections to low-income households (OBA)
• Component 3 – Grid-connected solar

This Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) is prepared as required under the World Bank’s Operational Policy/Bank Procedure (OP/BP) 4.10. Environmental Assessment safeguard the confirmed and the proposed project sites. The purpose of this ESMF is to ensure that all components of the Project meet the environmental and social safeguard policies of the World Bank and laws and regulations of Solomon Islands.

Complete ESMF documentation can be found here.