Tiny Tuvalu to be energy renewable by 2020
20 Jul 2009
Thumbs up for Tuvalu, the 4th smallest country in the world at just 26 km2 vowed Sunday to do its part for climate change by fueling its economy entirely from renewable sources by 2020. The South Pacific nation of 12,000 people is part of a movement of countries and cities committed to going climate neutral.
Tuvalu hopes to replace the fossil fuels that it imports by ship with solar energy and wind power, a project that it expects will cost $20 million. Tuvalu already releases almost no greenhouse gases. But because of climate change, many South Pacific islands see worsening flooding amid predictions of a large sea level rise this century.
So far, Tuvalu has installed a 40 kilowatt solar energy system with the help of two members of the e8, an international nonprofit organization of 10 leading power utilities from G8 countries. The Tuvalu government is working to expand the initial $410,000 project from 40 to 60 kilowatts, and will extend solar power to outer islands, starting later this year with the commission of a $800,000, 46 kilowatt solar power system for a secondary school. The Italian government is supporting the project.
"We thank those who are helping Tuvalu reduce its carbon footprint as it will strengthen our voice in those international negotiations," Public Utilities and Industries Minister Kausea Natano said in a statement. "And we look forward to the day when our nation offers an example to all -- powered entirely by natural resources such as the sun and the wind."
