Funding round: one
Country: Samoa
Sector: Community development
REnew Pacific’s first project in Samoa will bring clean, reliable electricity to homes and community spaces across Upolu, Savai‘i and Apolima Island, reaching families who have long lived without safe power.
Led by the Electric Power Corporation (EPC), in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD), and supported by the Australian Government, the project will install solar and battery systems for 108 households and five community fales across Upolu and Savai‘i, while upgrading a mini-grid power network on Apolima Island to provide 24/7 renewable electricity to 11 households.
This project builds on EPC’s ongoing efforts to expand solar access across Samoa and marks the first initiative delivered under the REnew Pacific program. It reflects a shared commitment between national agencies, communities and development partners to deliver practical, community-led energy solutions that respond to local needs and strengthen long-term resilience.
This project is not about numbers, it’s about the Samoan communities. Each household represents a family, a story and a right to light. By replacing wood, kerosene and diesel generation with solar power, the initiative will improve health and safety, support education and livelihoods, and help communities better withstand the impacts of climate change. It also contributes to Samoa’s national goal of achieving 70 percent renewable energy by 2031, while strengthening energy access in some of the country’s most remote areas.
$1,118,000
$1,118,000
DFAT contribution
$170,000
$170,000
Partner contribution
$1,288,000
$1,288,000
Total funding
Partner
The Electric Power Corporation (EPC) is Samoa’s sole electricity provider, responsible for generating and distributing power to homes, businesses and public facilities across Upolu, Savai‘i, Manono and Apolima islands.
The Ministry of Finance provides advice to the Samoan Government on its overarching macroeconomic framework, its fiscal strategy and on achieving value for money from its investments.
About this project
This initiative will bring clean, reliable electricity to 108 households and five community fales across Upolu and Savai‘i and upgrade the power system for 11 homes on Apolima Island.
REnew Pacific’s first project in Samoa is grounded in a community-first approach. EPC will install rooftop solar panels with modern battery systems for 88 homes that are not connected to the national grid. An additional 20 vulnerable households will be supported through a fast-track initiative with the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD), ensuring fair access for families who may face barriers to applying or installing systems.
Five community fales will also receive solar and battery systems. These shared spaces will allow residents, especially those who cannot host systems at home to charge phones, access lighting, and use shared appliances. The fales will also support village meetings, youth programs, and women’s committees, helping ensure energy access reaches all parts of the community.
On Apolima, the existing small local power network will be replaced with a new solar and battery system that can power the 11 homes on the island day and night. A small back-up generator will only be used during long cloudy periods, helping to keep diesel use and running costs low. EPC will own and maintain the system, using electricity payments to cover servicing and repairs. Community training and energy-use awareness sessions will help households use the new power safely and efficiently.
Context
While Samoa has achieved high overall electricity access, some rural and island communities remain beyond the reach of the national grid. In these areas, families rely on wood fires, kerosene lamps and disposable batteries for light and cooking, options that are costly, unsafe, and limiting. The absence of reliable power affects study time for students, access to health care, and opportunities for small businesses, especially in remote villages and on Apolima Island.
Extending grid infrastructure to these scattered communities is often unaffordable due to terrain, distance and cost. For these households, solar and battery systems offer a practical, sustainable solution, bringing clean energy where the grid cannot reach.
Each household reached through this project represents more than a technical connection. It is a home where children study, elders rest, and families gather. By focusing on homes and shared community spaces, the initiative supports the everyday lives of people who deserve safe, clean energy as a basic right; not a privilege.
This project responds directly to that need. It prioritises homes and communities that have waited longest for safe, clean electricity. Through a partnership between EPC, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, and support from the Australian Government, the initiative will deliver energy access that is community-led, inclusive and built to last.
By improving reliable power supply, the project supports Samoa’s national goal of reaching 70 percent renewable energy by 2031, while helping families live, learn and work with greater safety, dignity and opportunity.
We are deeply grateful to the Australian Government for its trust and partnership. This first-ever AIFFP-funded project for Samoa marks a milestone not only for the Electric Power Corporation but for our nation’s journey toward universal access to clean energy. Through REnew Pacific, EPC will deliver reliable solar and battery systems to families who have waited the longest for safe power. This investment is a tangible expression of Australia’s friendship and shared commitment to Samoa’s sustainable and resilient future.
At the heart of this project are our communities – the families, elders and young people whose lives will be brighter and safer with clean energy. EPC’s collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development reflects the spirit of Samoa’s governance: partnership, service and inclusion. Together, we are ensuring that energy access is not just a technical achievement but a social commitment. We aim to empower villages, strengthen resilience and honour the values that define us as a nation.– Fesola’i Tau’ili’ili Faumui Iese Toimoana
General Manager, EPC