World Bank $60m for MEC

Grid-connected solar panels adorn the roofs of classroom buildings at Marshall Islands High School as part of a World Bank-funded project to improve Majuro’s energy system. Photo: MEC.

The World Bank will pump $60 million into the Marshalls Energy Company for a mix of alternative energy systems for Majuro, Ebeye and six outer islands where MEC supports power operations.

There is no funding in the new grant for new diesel-powered generators. The goal appears to be to provide MEC with solar power capacity to support Majuro’s current energy needs.

The new project is called REGAIN — Renewable Energy Generation and Access INcrease — and is projected to take six years to implement. The World Bank, which is funding the project, says this “will increase the share of renewable energy generation, improve electricity service in targeted islands, and strengthen the capacity of key energy sector entities, with a particular focus on gender inclusion.”

The large grant is being touted as a “historic leap toward energy independence.” It will feature:

  • $43 million to “modernize the power grids in Majuro and Ebeye to make them more resilient and capable of harnessing more renewable energy.” MEC contractors will install solar panels with a generating capacity of eight megawatts, which when combined with the four megawatts of solar systems now being installed for MEC on Majuro, is about equal to Majuro’s daily power consumption. In addition there will be 15 megawatt hours of battery storage systems linked to the new solar system.

The funding includes storm-proofing power lines and equipment, while adding new service vehicles and machinery to help crews respond faster to outages.

  • $12.5 million to build new hybrid systems combining solar and diesel power in both Arno and Ine islands. The project will also modernize existing diesel power plants in Jaluit, Wotje, and Rongrong islands by adding solar capabilities, significantly reducing their fuel consumption. In Kili Island, MEC will improve power infrastructure, as well as install cash power meters on individual homes and buildings.
    “Together, these improvements will provide reliable, clean electricity to more than 400 customers, including households, businesses, and community facilities across all six islands,” said an MEC press release.
  • $4.5 million for training MEC workers, with a special focus on creating opportunities for women through apprenticeships.

“Our team at MEC, to be supported by international technical experts, consulting firms, and specialized engineers, is ready and fully committed to successfully delivering all components of this program within the next six years,” said MEC CEO Jack Chong Gum.

MEC claims that this six-year project “will improve daily life on our islands by helping reduce unplanned power outages by 25 percent and delivering reliable electricity to 33,000 people by 2030.”

It will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions demonstrating the RMI’s commitment to climate action, said MEC.

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