A new solar power system is set to be installed at Rarotonga Hospital, marking a significant step toward renewable energy use in the Cook Islands’ healthcare sector.

With the goal to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower operational costs, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM), Major Projects and Procurement Support (MPPS), Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health (TMO), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a contract for the procurement and installation of an 80kW photovoltaic (PV) system at the hospital.

The contract was awarded to local company Andersons Limited after an open international procurement tender process.

The project will involve the design, supply and installation of the PV system, solar inverters, and mains connection to the hospital’s distribution board.

The selection of a Cook Islands-based company is expected to bring economic benefits, create employment opportunities and ensure that investment remains within the local economy.

Andersons Limited managing director Steve Anderson welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the hospital’s energy transformation.

“We’re honoured to contribute to this transformative project. It’s a win for the environment, healthcare and our economy,” Anderson said.

“We are particularly pleased to see the adoption of a ‘Design and Build’ methodology, which allows the benefit of local knowledge being applied to projects, improving efficiency and reducing costs. It also avoids the pitfalls of prescriptive designs by overseas consultants, which often results in suboptimal outcomes and vendor lock-in,” Anderson said.

The hospital’s new solar system is expected to deliver long-term environmental and financial benefits. By harnessing renewable energy, the hospital will reduce its reliance on diesel-powered electricity, helping to lower emissions and cut operational expenses. Te Aponga Uira (TAU), the local electricity provider, will also benefit from reduced diesel consumption.

Health Secretary Bob Williams highlighted the project’s broader significance.

“This project not only highlights our country’s ambitions towards more renewable energy consumption, it also reinforces our strategic priorities to strengthen our health system resilience, achieve universal health care service of excellence and have impactful public and private partnerships,” Williams said.

The solar installation will also offset the electrical demand of the hospital’s newly installed medical waste system, further enhancing the facility’s sustainability efforts.

The project is being funded through a grant from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR), administered by the ADB.

The NZD$3.2 million grant was secured in 2021 to support the safe recovery of travel and tourism in the Cook Islands, with funds allocated for airport and health-related infrastructure improvements.

Financial Secretary Garth Henderson noted the government’s commitment to using the funding for key health and airport projects.

“The Cook Islands was successful in accessing the NZD$3.2m grant back in 2021, and when we signed this grant agreement the Government committed to supporting health and airport projects,” Henderson said.

“We’ve completed the Tupapa Health Centre refurbishments, and the Rarotonga medical waste system upgrade so far, this project is the latest one delivering on our commitment to date.”

Work on the 80kW PV system is set to begin next month, with completion expected by June.

• Talaia Mika/MFEM