Te Aponga Uira (TAU) is introducing two new pieces of technology in the first half of 2025, both critical to providing reliable electricity to its 6000 customers, the electricity provider said in a statement.

The technology will also help TAU effectively manage and dispatch increasing amounts of renewable energy into Rarotonga’s electricity grid. An upgraded SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system and new micro grid controller will be installed over coming months by TAU’s team working with experts from New Zealand and America.

According to the statement, all modern electricity networks require a SCADA. They’re used to monitor and control various processes within power plants and distribution networks. TAU’s existing SCADA is 10 years old and due to be upgraded to provide a higher level of automation for monitoring, control, and reporting of existing and new power generation.

TAU is also introducing a new micro grid controller. This equipment will give TAU fully automated control of diesel generation to match renewable generation happening on the electricity grid. It will coordinate power system equipment to maximise renewable energy without impacting power system stability and reliability, the statement said.

“Extensive testing will be required but when the project is completed, the micro grid controller will enable TAU to dispatch as much renewable energy as possible when it’s available and economic to do so, and switch on diesel generation only when other generation sources are exhausted (‘real-time’ renewable energy and renewable energy stored in batteries).

“Having a micro grid controller will help TAU and Rarotonga to safely, efficiently, and effectively introduce more renewable energy as an electricity source into our homes and businesses.”

The upgraded SCADA and micro grid controller will also give the operations, engineering and management teams reliable real-time operational information to control and manage TAU’s assets.

“Introducing new and upgraded technology is part of our work to achieve our vision: to empower the community through sustainable and innovative energy solutions,” said TAU chief executive officer, Lesley Katoa. “These projects form part of our ongoing work to ensure we have an electricity grid able to deliver the reliable electricity our customers expect, while being ready for an increasingly renewable energy future.”

The statement added as with other TAU projects, “we are not planning electricity outages and will do all we can to schedule and plan testing to be at times that will minimise disruption”.

TAU expresses great appreciation to the Asian Development Bank and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) for facilitating access to funding for the SCADA system.