Last week, UNELCO experienced a high level of renewable energy penetration, with more than 30% of electricity generated from wind and solar power plants connected to the grid.

This strong performance was mainly due to exceptional wind conditions, which not only boosted wind generation but also helped cool photovoltaic systems, slightly improving their efficiency.

Between June 8 and June 13, renewable energy penetration exceeded 40% between 10 am and 3 pm, reaching a peak of nearly 50% around midday. Throughout this period, the level never fell below 18% over a full day. Wind generation remained stable, contributing between 18% and 28% of total production.

These conditions highlight the strong complementarity between wind and solar energy within UNELCO’s energy mix. Importantly, UNELCO has demonstrated that it can effectively manage the penetration of intermittent energy sources without causing blackouts which could have affected its customers.

This performance has reduced the use of diesel generation for the month, helping to mitigate the impact of fuel costs on UNELCO’s electricity tariff.

This achievement demonstrates UNELCO’s ongoing commitment to increasing renewable energy while maintaining a stable and reliable power supply for its customers on Efate.