Will Tesla Solar power Ta'u in American Samoa?

Tesla has announced their solar panels are nearly entirely powering the island of Ta'u in American Samoa. The island used to depend entirely on imported diesel fuel for its electricity, but a new initiative has seen the islanders build a 1.4-megawatt microgrid that absorbs and stores solar power for all their energy needs.

Is American Samoa a renewable country?

American Samoa’s energy sector relies almost entirely on imported fossil fuels, although renewables represent a small but growing power system contribution. The territory possesses substantial solar energy resources, as well as wind and biomass resource potential.

How much solar power does American Samoa have?

Of the 5 MW of ASPA’s grid-connected solar PV capacity, 4.1 MW is utility scale and 900 kW is distributed across rooftops. American Samoa’s smaller islands are moving toward a combination of solar, batteries, and diesel generators.

How much does electricity cost in Samoa?

Average U.S. and American Samoa Electricity Prices (2022) ASPA rates are down slightly as of January 2024—approximately $0.41/kWh for residential and commercial customers and $0.38/kWh for industrial customers. ASPA’s total energy rates include a renewable energy flat rate charged at $0.002/kWh across all service types (ASPA 2024).

Where does American Samoa get fuel?

Fuel for American Samoa comes from Singapore with Busan, South Korea as an alternate provider if needed. In the case of fuel disruption, Pacific Energy prioritizes serving ASPA to ensure power and water treatment services are not interrupted (Pacific Energy representative, personal communication, August 9, 2023).

Does American Samoa have a geothermal energy plan?

The 2016 American Samoa Energy Action Plan identifies some geothermal resources, but none of these are viable for commercial electricity generation. The 2016 plan instead emphasizes the development of wind and solar power (Ness, Haase, and Conrad 2016). American Samoa is exploring opportunities for both offshore and onshore wind power generation.