A remote high school in Papua New Guinea, Kokoda College, has recently installed a solar-powered mini-grid to provide electricity to its classrooms, school infrastructure, and its surrounding campus. The project is part of the Australian government’s Pacific climate infrastructure financing partnership (PCIFP) initiative to support the expansion of the Australian infrastructure financing facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) climate investments.
The solar-powered mini-grid will power classrooms, an IT lab, and vital infrastructure such as a solar water pump, incinerator, and solar-powered irrigation system for the campus garden. This will not only provide a stable learning environment for the school’s 200 students but also enable better access to technology and digital tools for afterschool studies.
The project is particularly significant for students pursuing a second chance at secondary education, with the solar grid providing better access to technology and enabling digital tablet charging for home use, particularly valuable for the nearly 50% of female students.
Kokoda College Principal Stainless Bill and KTF CEO Dr. Genevieve Nelson praised the initiative, noting that it will “eradicate energy shortages” and “empower students to shine brighter” in their academic journey. Australian High Commission Minister Counsellor Dr. Cate Rogers emphasized the importance of small-scale, off-grid renewable energy infrastructure in boosting development in remote and rural communities.
The project is in line with the Government of Papua New Guinea’s 2030 target of connecting 70% of its population to renewable electricity. With its installation, Kokoda College has taken a significant step towards achieving this goal, providing a better learning environment and opportunities for its students to succeed.