Micro-grid Renewable Energy Systems Damage Assessment Report

The European Union and Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) partnership through North-REP (North Pacific ACP Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project) has installed solar PV micro-grids in the outer islands of Yap. A total of 279kW of solar PV capacity installed as 10 micro-grids in the five outer islands of: Mogmog – Ulithi, Falalop – Ulithi, Fais, Falalop Wolea and Satawal.

Typhoon Maysak made landfall on Yap islands, on Tuesday 31st March and Wednesday 1st April causing substantial damages prompting Governor Tony Ganngiyan to declare a state of emergency. President Many Mori issued an amendment to the declaration of State of Emergency to include Yap. An FSM Emergency Task Force led by Director OEEM was formed to coordinate the disaster response efforts and met with the US Embassy to access the disaster assessment emergency fund (DAEF).

Preliminary damage assessment reports from Chuuk and Yap indicated that the North-REP installed solar PV systems had been damaged by the typhoon. Balance Utility Solutions ("Balance") was commissioned to provide technical assistance in undertaking a detailed assessment of the damage sustained, provide details of the damages to the solar PV systems and estimate costs for the restoration of the systems.

This report is a result of a mission to Fais Island, Ulithi Falalop and Ulithi Mogmog by North-REP and Balance Utility Solutions. The report outlines damages by Typhoon Maysak to the solar PV micro-grid systems installed as part of North-REP activities in the outer islands of Yap.