Generating energy security for essential healthcare in the Solomon Islands
13%
87%
Partner contribution
$ 34,559
DFAT contribution
$ 245,000
Total Value
$ 279,559
Start: February 2024 - End: February 2026
Australian Government
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade works with international partners and other countries to tackle global challenges, increase trade and investment opportunities, protect international rules, keep our region stable and help Australians overseas.
Superfly Limited
Superfly Limited is a locally-owned supplier of quality solar systems in the Solomon Islands.
Good Samaritan Hospital
The Good Samaritan Hospital, based in Tetere, provides essential healthcare services for over 43,000 people, particularly women who depend on it for maternity care and child health services.
A partnership to generate energy security for essential healthcare in the Solomon Islands’ Tetere community.
Context
Good Samaritan Hospital is located at Tetere, on the Eastern side of the Solomon Islands’ Guadalcanal province. It provides essential healthcare services for over 43,000 people, particularly women who depend on it for maternity care and child health services.
Superfly estimates that 75% of Solomon Island’s health and education services are situated in rural areas and powered by diesel. Solar hybrid systems provide a viable path for transitioning rural infrastructure to solar power as the reduced diesel expenditures are able to cover financing costs of solar hybrid systems. The provision of a solar hybrid system is in accordance with the Solomon Island’s Long-Term Low Emissions Development strategy, which is to boost electricity access outside of Honiara from 4.9% (2019) to 40% by 2025, in working towards 100% access to electricity by 2050.
About the initiative
Through this partnership, Superfly will install a solar hybrid system, which will create more sustainable and consistent energy generation for the hospital, enabling local community members to access a safer and more resilient healthcare setting. It will train staff to monitor and maintain the system safely, with Superfly visiting the hospital to monitor and maintain the system, as well as monitoring its operations via via the Victron Remote Monitoring app.
It will also use data-driven insights from the system to understand how to develop scalable models for future fuel-switching projects for other remote communities in the Solomon Islands and beyond.
By switching to the solar hybrid system, the partnership is projected to secure 510 tonnes of CO2 from the environment over 10 years.
Key contributions from partners
- Superfly will provide engineering, procurement, installation and maintenance of the system.
- The Good Samaritan Hospital will guide Superfly to ensure that the system installation creates only a minimal impact on its operation. Hospital staff will take part in training to operate, maintain and troubleshoot and issues the system may have, and will also contribute to funding quarterly maintenance visits.
- The Australian Government will contribute catalytic funding to strengthen social and commercial impacts. It will also enable partners to create new connections within its extensive network, provide insight and guidance on gender equality, build capacity on social impact reporting and advise on standards and practices for safeguarding, as well as support with communications to enable national and global recognition.
This partnership was selected through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) Call for Partnerships to Support Off-Grid Renewable Energy in the Pacific and Timor-Leste.