Real-World Impact: Solar + Storage Delivered to Remote School in Fiji

Real-World Impact: Solar + Storage Delivered to Remote School in Fiji

Last week, a major milestone was delivered in the Pacific – both in terms of energy infrastructure and what it represents for the region.

The Pacific’s first all-female solar installation team successfully delivered a complete energy and connectivity solution at Ratu Naivalu Memorial School on Waya Island in Fiji’s Yasawa Group.

This project brought together technical capability, training, and collaboration to deliver a system designed for real-world use.

A Complete System – Power and Connectivity Working Together

The installation provides reliable power and connectivity across the entire school community, including:

  • 4 school buildings
  • 3 student hostels
  • 10 teachers’ homes

For a remote site like this, the impact is immediate and ongoing.

The system includes:

  • 18kW solar PV array
  • 40kWh lithium battery storage
  • Starlink with site-wide network access
  • Smart TVs and laptops installed
  • Built and commissioned to AUS/NZ standards

This goes beyond generation – it supports how the school operates every day.

Designed for Real Conditions

Remote systems come with real constraints:

  • limited access to grid support
  • exposure to harsh environmental conditions
  • reliance on consistent performance over time

Systems like this need to:

  • operate reliably
  • require minimal intervention
  • support both daily use and peak demand

This is what determines how the system performs once it’s installed.

Delivered by a Strong Team

The project was delivered by:

  • 10 Solar Tech installers
  • 10 University of the South Pacific engineering students

Beyond the installation itself, this creates capability in the region — building experience that can be applied to future projects.

There is also a broader shift taking place, with more women leading technical delivery across renewable energy projects in the Pacific.

Collaboration Across Partners

This outcome was made possible through collaboration between:

As Ben Cameron noted following the installation, the level of commitment from technology partners plays a critical role in making projects like this possible — both in delivery and in building future training pathways for local contractors.

Why This Matters

Projects like this highlight a simple truth: Reliable energy changes how people live and work.

For this school, that means:

  • consistent access to power
  • improved learning environments
  • reduced reliance on diesel
  • long-term system stability

Final Thought

In remote environments, success is defined by what happens after installation.

Systems need to keep operating, day after day, in real conditions.

That’s what makes projects like this meaningful.

Behind the Project

Projects like this are the result of multiple partners working together.

They are the result of collaboration between multiple partners, along with people on the ground who are committed to delivering real outcomes.

There is also a strong focus on training and knowledge transfer, with plans to continue developing local contractor capability through future programs.

Feedback from project partners reinforced this.

Rodolfo Garza (Briggs & Stratton / SimpliPHI Power) highlighted the importance of being involved in initiatives like this — not just as a supplier, but as part of a broader effort to support meaningful projects in the Pacific.

Back to blog