UNELCO renewables supply over 30 per cent of Efate electricity

June 17, 2026 11:08 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Ezra Toara.

Utility company UNELCO has reported an increase in the share of renewable energy in its electricity generation mix on Efate, reflecting the growing contribution of wind and solar power to the island’s energy supply.

According to UNELCO, renewable energy penetration exceeded 30 per cent of electricity supplied to the grid last week, generated from wind and solar power plants.

The strong performance was largely attributed to favourable wind conditions, which increased electricity production from wind turbines and also helped cool photovoltaic solar systems, slightly improving their efficiency.

UNELCO said the conditions highlighted the complementarity between wind and solar energy within its renewable energy portfolio. The company also said it was able to manage intermittent renewable energy sources effectively without causing outages or disruptions to customers.

Between June 8 and June 13, renewable energy penetration exceeded 40 per cent between 10:00am and 3:00pm each day, peaking at nearly 50 per cent around midday. Throughout the same period, renewable energy contributions did not fall below 18 per cent over a 24-hour cycle.

Wind generation remained particularly stable, accounting for between 18 and 28 per cent of total electricity production during the period.

UNELCO noted that increased renewable energy use reduced reliance on diesel-powered generation during the month, helping to ease pressure from fuel costs on electricity tariffs.

The company said the achievement reflects its ongoing commitment to expanding renewable energy while maintaining a stable and reliable electricity supply for customers across Efate.