400 villagers of Tukavesi in Natewa Cakaudrove are enjoying the use of electricity 24 hours a day and 7 days a week – through a solar hybrid project.

The Tukavesi solar hybrid project is powering the operation of the health centre, primary school, post office, police station, the District Officers office, a church and 92 households.

Solar hybrid systems combine solar power with another power generating energy source, which in this case is a generator.

Director energy, Mikaele Belena told the Minister for Infrastructure Jone Usamate during a site visit, when the solar power reaches 60 percent, the generator automatically kicks in.

The project cost government approximately $1.03 million and works included the installation of solar panels, inverters, batteries and the generator.

The department of energy has also had to wire some homes and repair the existing wiring in others.
Streetlights testing has also been conducted.

The works, which took over a year to finish, was completed at the end of last year.