Staff Reporters/
Apia, 04 November 2024 – The Samoan agri-production company, Sunshine Pacific has won an innovative funding award for an 8-acre hydroponics farm and an 8-acre poultry operation at Tanumalala.
Sunshine Pacific is one of recipients announced by the Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) program of its latest innovation funding round.
Seven companies from six Pacific Island countries —Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu—have been awarded grants ranging from £53,000 to £200,000, totalling £918,100 as part of the UK Government’s Ayrton Fund for clean energy innovation via the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform.
The funding award was announced by Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs for the United Kingdom as part of a wider support package for Pacific Island Countries during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.
The seven companies selected to receive funding will research and develop a range of solutions to harness renewable energy for productive uses. They include:
FIJI
SDG Changemakers will test the viability of using solar-powered processing units in the coconut value chain in Fiji, while developing the downstream market of processed coconut by-products. They will manufacture a fit-for-purpose mobile processing unit and solar-powered dryers then test three business models with local farmers and communities including exchange, micro-financing and lease-to-own models.
Blackfrog Technologies will develop Emvólio, a patented rapid cooling technology for safe last-mile transport of vaccines, insulin, breast milk, bloodserums, medications and specimens with minimal thermal shock. Unlike conventional refrigerators, this technology is highly energy-efficient and stands to make a significant impact in the transportation of vital healthcare supplies.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
PNG Women in Agriculture Development Foundation aims to demonstrate the financial and technical viability of solar-powered cold chains in Papa New Guinea’s horticulture sector, with a focus on women as equal partners for empowerment and development. With this funding, they will deploy a solar generator, two solar-powered refrigeration systems and one solar-powered ice maker that will produce ice for post-harvest, protecting the integrity of produce.
SAMOA
Sunshine Pacific will install a solar system to power a 16-acre commercial space for agri production, providing energy to an 8-acre hydroponics farm and an 8-acre poultry operation. This aims to demonstrate the financial and technical viability of the productive use of renewable energy solutions in agri-processing and will improve food security, create green jobs and support economic development.
SOLOMON ISLANDS
Superfly designs solar systems for remote areas in hot climates aiming to address the low electrification rate (25%) across the Solomon Islands. Superfly will distribute 100 Koolboks 208 litre solar-powered freezers on a PAYGO basis to rural fisheries and canteens across nine provinces in the Solomon Islands. The project will test whether PAYGO financing of improved cold chains between islands can viably boost returns for farming and fishing, attracting further investment and replication.
TONGA
Motu Juice is testing innovative off-grid portable mini-factories powered by solar energy and biomass boilers. The project involves testing a factory capable of producing 260,000 litres of coconut milk annually. Coconut milk is a staple in Tongan cuisine, but the country currently relies entirely on imports resulting in higher prices. Operating on a franchise model, Motu Juice will support local management to use their mini-factories to produce viable domestic supplies, which also expect to enhance disaster response, boost local employment, and foster community growth and skill development.
VANUATU
Vanwods was established as a network dedicated to eradicating poverty by empowering women in rural villages with the opportunity to start, grow and maintain sustainable, income-generating micro-enterprises. With PREO support, the company will provide subsidised solar appliances – such as solar-powered deep freezers, sewing machines, and water pumps – to women-led micro, small, and medium businesses in the northern islands of Vanuatu – improving livelihoods through harnessing solar energy solutions for income generation.
Angus Vantoch-Wood, PREO Programme Director at the Carbon Trust, said “By strategically supporting innovative companies with catalytic grant funding and technical assistance, PREO helps scale impactful projects, enabling businesses to adopt clean energy technologies, improve livelihoods, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.”
