Seven rural hydroelectric power schemes commissioned in Solomon Islands
Year
Village
Population
Donor
Turbine
Typical generation
1983
Iriri
200
UNIDO
Peltone Wheel
4kW
1991
Vavanga
300
AusAID
Crossflow
5kW
1993
Ghatere
350
ADRA
Crossflow
5kW
1997
Manawai
600
EZE
Pelton
15kW
1999
Bulelavata
300 + 650
IGP
Crossflow
14kW
2002
Raeao
500
IGP
Pelton
30kW
2003
Nariaoa
450
IGP, SIG
Pelton
30kW
The Vavanga scheme has recently been physically transposed to another river, as an indirect result of foreign company logging damage to catchments. New power output is upgraded to 10kW. The initiative and design was locally driven. The new turbine (Pelton) has been supported through APACE VFEG and Pelena Pty, with all other costs and effort provided by Vavanga residents. At the time of writing, intitial testing confirms a 10kW output. Ghatere scheme is not operating as a result of local social divisions possibly arising from logging interests.
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