What is the Timor-Leste solar power project?

The Project involves the construction and 25-year operation of a new power plant in Manatuto, Timor-Leste, comprising a 72 MW solar power plant co-located with a 36 MW/36 MWh battery energy storage system. This will be the country’s first full-scale renewable energy IPP project.

How much does electricity cost in Timor-Leste?

The cost of electricity in Timor-Leste for commercial and industrial consumers is high compared to ASEAN countries. For instance, in Indonesia industrial electricity tariffs are 0.11 USD/kWh, compared to 0.24 USD/kWh in Timor-Leste.

Does Timor-Leste need a roof-top solar energy system?

In addition, most of Timor-Leste's electricity is generated through costly and polluting diesel generators. Australia's Market Development Facility (MDF) and ITP Renewables conducted an assessment of the potential market for roof-top solar energy systems in Timor-Leste.

Why is solar energy maintenance important in Timor-Leste?

Maintenance tends to be limited to repairing malfunctioning system components, instead of preventative care or servicing, which can reduce the effectiveness of solar energy systems and increase costs. Technicians in Timor-Leste have experience in small-scale, off-grid solar energy systems.

Is Timor-Leste a good country for solar energy?

Timor-Leste has a high-quality solar resource. The global horizontal irradiance in Dili is higher than on the east coast of Australia, where the solar market is mature and installation costs are higher. The cost of electricity in Timor-Leste for commercial and industrial consumers is high compared to ASEAN countries.

What is energy security in Timor-Leste?

1 Energy security is “uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price”; International Energy Agency. The average payback period for a rooftop PV solar energy system in Timor-Leste is 2.5 years. This is much lower than the global average of 6 to 10 years, due to solar resource and electricity costs: