Small Island Nation To Run Completely on Solar Power

Tuvalu, a small island in the Pacific, was one of the first nations to be dramatically affected by climate change.  As a result the small island nation announced recently that they will completely overhaul their electrical infrastructure to run completely on solar power.

Tuvalu’s shores were quickly shrinking as climate change caused seawaters to rise more rapidly. Tuvalu is unique in that the small island is only 3 feet above sea level. The increasing sea level was causing Tuvalu to lose more and more crops each year. Discussions were even being made to move the entire country to New Zealand by the end of this century.

NGOe8 and the Japanese government will be aiding Tuvalu in the transition to complete dependency on solar energy. Tuvalu has already begun installing the initial 40 KW.

The complete switch to solar power is partially possible due to Tuvalu’s small size.  The country only has 12,000 residents and the estimated cost to provide them with solar power is US$20 million.

Tuvalu, as the earliest to be hit hard by climate change, has learned first hand the value of researching and implementing alternative energy options. It is first steps in a global push to avoid climate devastation.

Tuvalu is predicting to be completely run on solar power by 2020, making it the first nation in history to do so.