Solar helps Rongelap Islanders

Bruce Lanwi's family in Delap get Solar MRA Greenbox system. Photo: Hilary Hosia.
Bruce Lanwi’s family in Delap get Solar MRA Greenbox system. Photo: Hilary Hosia.

The container carrying 70 Solar MRA Greenbox systems for the Rongelap community has arrived in Majuro and installation has started, said Munawar Arain, who has developed the specially designed systems for Rongelap households.

“This project is the result of a partnership between Rongelap Atoll Local Government and Embassy of New Zealand in collaboration with Humanity First Marshall Islands, a not for profit organization,” said Arain, who is based in Canada.

MRA Greenbox is designed to harness solar power for Marshallese households. Arain said the straightforward operation of MRA GreenBox provides an outstanding user experience.

Once installed, these new systems will allow the families to utilize electricity without any operational cost or dependence on the local electricity grid operated by MEC.

The Canada-based MRA team responsible for this project was in Majuro for the signing ceremony of the project last year. “Learning from the on-site visit and knowledge sharing by our local contacts will allow MRA to develop other environmentally friendly technologies for Marshall Islands,” said Arain.

The MRA Greenbox systems will be installed over the next few weeks and a formal graduation ceremony for technicians and homeowners’ certification will be held towards the end of April.

Read more about this in the April 20, 2018 edition of the Marshall Islands Journal.