Interview with Tata Crocombe from Aitutaki: The Remote Island Seeking to Use its Solar Exposure to Improve its Electricity Access
The Pacific Islands, countries like the Cook Islands are not only blessed with stunning natural beauty and pristine waters, but also bathed in abundant sunshine, offering incredible potential to use solar energy to ignite households in the communities, develop businesses and preserve the environment. With solar expo-sure surpassing 1,400 W/m² in Aitutaki Island, transitioning to solar power presents a tangible opportuni-ty for reducing energy costs and moving away from reliance on fossil fuels. This could mean cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions becoming a part of the island’s tourism reality.
That said, while the challenges of solar adoption in remote islands are real, they’re not insurmountable. The remoteness, though complicating logistics, also fosters innovative problem-solving. For Tata Cro-combe, the owner of Aitutaki Lagoon Private Island Resort, a resort often described by media from all over the world as surrounded by one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world, further emphasizing the im-portance of sustainable practices to preserve such stunning environments, challenges need to be addressed in the near future: from the scarcity of local market data to the complexity of setting up photovoltaic sys-tems.
However, these challenges also createopportunities for collaboration with global experts, such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA), which is currently working with governments in the Pacific region to explore how to bring solar technology to the islands. The resort itself is often described by internation-al media as surrounded by one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world, further emphasizing the im-portance of sustainable practices to preserve such stunning environments.
One of the bright spots is that the initial obstacles—such as determining the best placement for panels and accessing the right equipment—are becoming easier to navigate as solar technology becomes more afford-able and more widely understood. With the right support and strategic planning, resorts like Crocombe's could pave the way for an energy transition that benefits not just their business, but the local community and environment as well.
To explore this potential, Tata Crocombe invited the ISA delegation to his renowned resort to discuss his plans for integrating solar energy into his operations. Through his insights, he aims to showcase the bene-fits of solar power while addressing the unique journey undertaken by remote island resorts in adopting this sustainable energy source.
Kia Orana, Tata. Thank you for welcoming us. We’re eager to learn how your location in one of the world’s most stunning yet remote areas impacts your efforts to adopt solar energy at your resorts. What specific challenges do you encounter in this effort?
Absolutely, being in the Cook Islands, away from the main island, brings a lot of beauty but also a lot of logistical headaches. One of the biggest challenges for us has been figuring out how to bring solar energy into the mix. We’re not just dealing with the physical distance, but also the need for equipment, the right expertise, and the best placement for solar panels, especially when every mistake could cost a lot of money. The idea of adopting solar energy is fantastic, but the complexity of executing it here is daunting.
That makes sense. So, if the logistical challenges are one part of the equation, you must be in need of specific guidance to overcome these obstacles. What kind of support or advice are you seeking to move forward with solar energy?
Exactly. We’re in a position where we need expert advice on multiple fronts. The first question is: where do we even put the solar panels? In a location like ours, it’s not just about having sunny days; it’s about understanding how to use that energy as efficiently as we can. Then we’re looking at whether solar alone is enough or if we need to combine it with something else, like wind or storage batteries. We’ve had some conversations with consultants, but we’re still in the research phase. Finding reliable sources for the equipment is another hurdle—given our location, it's not just a matter of ordering something online and having it delivered the next day. These are all things that need to be addressed before we can really move forward.
It sounds like there are a lot of moving pieces, from figuring out the right technology to sourcing equipment. And that brings us to another issue—costs. Operating in a remote location must make eve-rything more expensive. How does the island’s remoteness affect both the feasibility and expense of so-lar energy projects?
You’re right—being this far from the main island means that everything is more expensive, not just for solar, but for everything we do. Shipping costs are considerably high, and when you’re talking about some-thing like solar panels, which are large and fragile, that adds another layer of complication. Plus, it’s not just about getting the equipment here, but also finding skilled workers to install and maintain the systems. We’re fortunate to have a consultant based in New Zealand helping us, but the costs still stack up quickly. This is something that smaller, independent resorts, like ours, have to factor in heavily when deciding whether to go green. Despite all that, we’re optimistic that once these initial hurdles are overcome, the long-term savings and benefits will justify the investment.
It sounds like the investment is substantial upfront, but it could pay off in the long run. Let’s dive a bit deeper into that. Once you manage to overcome these challenges, what’s the bigger picture? What are the most important benefits you expect from fully adopting solar energy?
If we can overcome these obstacles, the benefits could be enormous. First and foremost, the cost savings could be significant. Right now, most resorts in Aitutaki are heavily reliant on diesel, which is both expen-sive and environmentally damaging. Solar energy could allow us to cut our energy costs drastically, espe-cially for things like air conditioning, which is one of our biggest power draws. Then, there’s the environ-mental impact. Moving to solar would reduce our carbon footprint and align us with what our guests in-creasingly expect from sustainable tourism. Lastly, there’s the question of reliability. Diesel supplies can be unpredictable, especially in remote locations like ours. Having our own solar power would give us more control and stability over our energy needs. It’s really about long-term sustainability—both financially and environmentally.
I see, so it’s not just about cutting costs, but also ensuring energy independence and meeting the expectations of environmentally conscious travelers. With those benefits in mind, let’s broaden the scope a little. How do you see solar energy shaping the future of hospitality in remote loca-tions like yours?
I think solar energy could be transformative for the entire hospitality sector in remote areas. Right now, the biggest barrier is the cost and complexity of setting it up, but as the technology becomes more afforda-ble and efficient, I believe it will become a standard across the industry. For us, and other resorts in places like the Cook Islands, solar energy offers a path toward greater sustainability and resilience.
It’s not just about cutting costs; it’s about building a more stable and environmentally friendly future. However, to make this transition easier, we’re going to need more support from governments and regulators. Incentives, subsidies, and streamlined processes could really help small, independent hotels like ours adopt renewable energy more easily. We’re not there yet, but with the right support, I think we can get there.