BPP Partnership Impact Series: Solar power strengthening healthcare and water access in remote Timor-Leste
Since its launch, the Business Partnerships Platform (BPP) has worked with ambitious partners to deliver meaningful, lasting change in communities across the world. The BPP Partnership Impact Series celebrates the outcomes and lessons from our partnerships, highlighting their contributions to inclusive economic growth, resilience and sustainable development.
Our Off-Grid Renewable Energy partnerships across the Pacific and Timor-Leste focused on sustainable, locally-led solutions that expand energy access for remote and rural communities, while delivering tangible social and economic benefits. They are pilots for REnew Pacific, the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific’s (AIFFP) $75 million investment to scale off-grid renewable energy across the region. This partnership installed solar energy systems, water pumps, and storage systems at three primary sites to enhance critical infrastructure and support the long-term health and wellbeing of remote and rural communities in Timor-Leste.
Solar power strengthening healthcare and water access in remote Timor-Leste
Australia is supporting remote communities in Timor-Leste to access reliable renewable energy, clean water and improved healthcare through innovative off-grid solar solutions delivered under the Business Partnerships Platform (BPP).
Delivered by Master Electricians Australia via MEA Power Up in partnership with local communities and institutions in Timor-Leste, the initiative has strengthened access to essential services across the remote communities of Gala, Holpilat and Maucatar in Cova Lima municipality.
The project delivered fully operational off-grid solar systems powering health clinics, medical laboratories and community water infrastructure, improving healthcare delivery, water security and community wellbeing for almost 12,000 people.
Impact key highlights
- 11,947 people, including around 5,975 women benefiting from the project
- Approximately 15,000 litres of clean water supplied to Holpilat communities each day because of the new solar water system
- More than 50 people, including 40 women, participated in entrepreneurship and sustainability training
- Estimated 12,000 litres of diesel saved per year by transitioning to solar-powered systems
- Eight weaving groups involving 42 women formed the “Feto Hasolok Maucatar” collective, creating new economic opportunities for women in remote communities.
The project combined renewable energy infrastructure with community training and sustainability initiatives to support long-term impact.
At Gala, a hybrid solar and battery system now provides reliable electricity to the local medical clinic, supporting lighting, refrigeration for medicines and vaccines, fans and essential clinical services. The project also rehabilitated the village solar bore pumping system, restoring reliable water access for approximately 405 people.
In Holpilat, a new solar-powered water pumping system now delivers around 15,000 litres of clean water per day to two villages, significantly reducing the burden of manual water collection for local families.
At Maucatar, the Teresa Orsini Medical Laboratory has been transformed into a fully off-grid health facility powered by solar energy. The facility now supports laboratory diagnostics, vaccine storage, dental services and accommodation for medical staff, benefiting an estimated catchment population of more than 10,000 people.
Reliable lighting is supporting children to study at home, while households can charge devices, improve safety, and explore new income opportunities. Meanwhile, remote monitoring technology, local maintenance training and ongoing technical support are helping ensure the systems remain reliable and sustainable over the long term.
More than 50 people, including 40 women, participated in entrepreneurship and sustainability training designed to strengthen local income generation and support long-term maintenance of community infrastructure. The project also delivered training for Ministry of Rural Development facilitators, helping strengthen local capacity to support rural enterprise development across Timor-Leste.
A key innovation of the project is linking energy access directly to income generation. Solar-powered freezers have created new fish buying points in the community which allows local fishers to sell their catch close to home, rather than travelling long distances to markets in Honiara.
Two locally owned energy service businesses have been established and are fully owned by women. Women have also been among the majority of solar kit customers, reflecting strong demand for reliable household energy.
The project demonstrates how renewable energy partnerships can strengthen climate resilience, improve essential services and create inclusive economic opportunities in remote communities across the Pacific and Timor-Leste. Models like this could help unlock new pathways to energy access supporting more inclusive economic development across the Pacific.
View the full partnership impact story below or download here.
