The test, carried out by Cook Islands-based technology company ICTnexus, is part of a larger initiative supported by the German Chamber of Commerce and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMUV). It aims to reduce reliance on costly imported fossil fuels while enhancing energy sustainability for the Cook Islands. The trial involved deploying a Janitza UMG103 power meter connected via LoRaWAN to the ICTnexus Smart Island LoRa Network.
This system collected detailed energy consumption data, which was analysed using Janitza’s GridVis Energy Management Software. The results will inform the optimal sizing of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, battery storage, and hydrogen electrolysis units for the resort. Motu Beachfront Villas Resort, known for its high-energy demands from air conditioning systems, water treatment, and guest services, was the first facility to undergo testing.
Further load assessments are planned for the Kent Community Hall and Titikaveka School, two key locations with varying energy consumption patterns. Green hydrogen technology offers long-term energy storage and decentralised power generation—critical factors for remote island nations facing high electricity costs and fluctuating renewable energy availability. By integrating solar PV, battery storage, and hydrogen production units into a mini-grid system, the project seeks to cut electricity costs by more than half while eliminating CO2 emissions f.