A small Polynesian atoll, just 2,4 km² in surface, with a lagoon in the center, Funafuti is located in the South Pacific Ocean and includes 6.025 inhabitants. The largest atoll of Vaitupu, 50 km², is located about 5,6 km north-north east, in which 1.555 inhabitants live.
In Funafuti, the 30% of energy comes from renewable sources: 500 kW are produced by photovoltaic panels distributed on the roofs of various buildings. The initiative had access to the public concession of the Abu Dhabi Development Fund and was completed in 2015. Overall, the photovoltaic modules generate 755 MWh / year, sufficient to cover the electricity needs of 800 homes. Every year the use of 248 thousand liters of diesel is avoided, equal to a saving of 298 thousand dollars for the island's coffers. 631 tCO2 / year are not released into the atmosphere.
In the neighboring island of Vaitapu 46 kW of solar energy are produced, thanks to one micro grid with photovoltaic and storage system, used to provide safe and clean electricity to secondary school. The micro-network was built in 2009, with funding from the Italian and Austrian government and has a supply of clean energy for 24h, equal to 101 MWh / year and corresponding to the avoided consumption of 17.290 liters of diesel per year, a 40% cut.
The success of the project has attracted other donors and will be replicated on other islands of the Tuvalu archipelago.