Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. visited Palau’s first large-scale solar power plant during the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting to mark the delivery of additional battery storage — a key milestone in Palau’s transition to renewable energy.
Joined by Australian Minister for Pacific Islands Affairs Pat Conroy and Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, the visit celebrated the installation of a new 19 MWh battery that will expand storage capacity and increase renewable energy generation to more than 25 per cent of Palau’s electricity needs.
Through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific, Australia has invested AUD 47.8 million (in loans and grants) in the solar power plant and expanded battery storage capacity. Together, these investments are helping reduce reliance on imported diesel, strengthen energy reliability and security, and support Palau's transition towards its goal of achieving 100 per cent renewable energy by 2035.
The solar power plant already supplies approximately 20 per cent of Palau’s electricity needs and has generated 34.67 GWh of renewable energy to date — equivalent to more than 8.6 million litres of diesel generation.
Prime Minister Albanese said the project demonstrates how renewable energy investments can deliver cleaner, more reliable power, reduce reliance on imported diesel and help shield Palau from the impacts of high fuel costs.
Located in Ngatpang on Babeldaob, the 15.28 MW solar plant was completed in December 2023 and included a 12.9 MWh battery energy storage system. The additional 19 MWh battery expands the facility’s storage capacity and enables more renewable energy to be integrated into the grid.
Prime Minister Albanese and President Whipps were also joined by Pacific leaders for a tour of the facility, highlighting the role high-quality infrastructure can play in strengthening energy security and accelerating the clean energy transition across the Pacific.
The project is being delivered in partnership with Solar Pacific Pristine Power, demonstrating how Australian financing can leverage private sector investment to deliver critical energy infrastructure in the Pacific.
Australia is proud to partner with Palau to advance its renewable energy transition through high-quality infrastructure investment that supports energy security, climate resilience and sustainable economic development.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaking at the visit to the project site