Property
Educational institution: international school campus, academic buildings and staff accommodation
Location
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Overview
A 130kW solar system paired with 244kWh of Sunsynk battery storage now powers South Pacific International Academy's academic facilities and staff accommodation, forming an independent mini-grid designed to keep the campus free from blackouts.
Installation partner
PNG Solar Supply
distributor
Sunsynk's exclusive distributor in Papua New Guinea. PNG Solar Supply worked with the school's board to conduct a detailed load analysis and correctly size the system.
The challenge
Grid instability and heavy diesel dependency were disrupting daily operations at the school. An undersized system would have required constant generator backup, while an oversized system would have meant paying for unused capacity.
The solution
Working with PNG Solar Supply, the school's board carried out a detailed load analysis before settling on the final specification. The 130kW solar array, Sunsynk inverters and 244kWh battery system power the academic facilities and staff accommodation. Peak daytime consumption is around 67kW, with more than 60kW diverted into battery storage for use later in the evening. The resulting mini-grid has reduced diesel generator use to around one hour a month and keeps the campus running after dark.
Measured outcomes
Monthly electricity cost
Under K2,000
Reduced from around K12,000, reaching as low as K384 in the sunniest months.
Diesel generator use
Around 1 hour per month
Generator dependency has been reduced to roughly one hour each month.
Annual clean electricity generation
Approximately 89MWh
The system generates roughly 89MWh of clean electricity each year.
Campus resilience
Independent mini-grid
Reliable power supports day-to-day learning, digital tools, staff accommodation and uninterrupted campus operations.
System specification
Solar PV array
The campus solar array supplies the school during the day and provides surplus generation for battery charging.
Inverter: 130kW
Sunsynk battery storage
Surplus daytime energy is stored for use after sunset, helping the campus continue operating without interruption.
Battery: 244kWh
Sunsynk inverters
Sunsynk inverters and battery storage form the core of the independent campus mini-grid.
Standards and compliance
Certification and warranty claims were not provided in the material supplied. Performance and cost figures are project-reported and require approval before publication.
We conducted a detailed load analysis with PNG Solar Supply to ensure the system was correctly sized. An undersized system would require constant generator backup, while an oversized one would mean paying for unused capacity.
PNG Solar Supply is an exclusive distributor for Sunsynk in Papua New Guinea, so it was a natural move for us to choose Sunsynk for both inverters and batteries. We are pleased with the after sales support that Sunsynk provides; and we believe that the value for money is the best in the industry.
