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Renewable Energy In The Cook Islands
Renewable energy in the Cook Islands is primarily provided by solar energy and biomass. Since 2011 the Cook Islands has embarked on a programme of renewable energy development to improve its energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with an initial goal of reaching 50% renewable electricity by 2015, and 100% by 2020. The programme has been assisted by the governments of Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, and the Asian Development Bank. Funding to provide solar panels with battery backup to the Northern atolls was provided by a NZ$20.5 million aid programme from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with construction provided by PowerSmart Solar of New Zealand. The first solar site at Rakahanga was completed in September 2014. Pukapuka and Nassau were next, going online at Christmas 2014. Construction began at Tongareva on 23 February 2015 and just 10 weeks later both villages Omoka and Te Tautua were running on solar power. Manihiki was progressed a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pukapuka PV 2015
Pukapuka, formerly Danger Island, is a coral atoll in the northern group of the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is one of most remote islands of the Cook Islands, situated about northwest of Rarotonga. On this small island, an ancient culture and distinct language has been maintained over many centuries. The traditional name for the atoll is ''Te Ulu-o-Te-Watu'' ('the head of the stone'), and the northern islet where the people normally reside is affectionately known as Wale ('Home'). Geography Pukapuka is shaped like a three bladed fan. There are three islets on the roughly triangular reef, with a total land area of approximately . Motu Kō, the biggest island is to the southeast; Motu Kotawa (Frigatebird Island) is to the southwest; and the main island Wale is to the north. Kō and Motu Kotawa are uninhabited food reserves, with taro and pulaka gardens and coconut plantations. Pukapuka Airport ( ICAO airport code: NCPK) is on Kō. The three villages are located ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tongareva Atoll
Penrhyn (also called Tongareva, Māngarongaro, Hararanga, and Te Pitaka) is an atoll in the northern group of the Cook Islands in the south Pacific Ocean. The northernmost island in the group, it is located at north-north-east of the capital island of Rarotonga, 9 degrees south of the equator. Its nearest neighbours are Rakahanga and Manihiki, approximately to the southwest. Once one of the most heavily populated atolls, it was almost completely depopulated by Peruvian slavers in 1864. Geography Penrhyn is a roughly circular coral atoll with a circumference of approximately , enclosing a lagoon with an area of . The atoll is atop the highest submarine volcano in the Cook Islands, rising from the ocean floor. The atoll is low-lying, with a maximum elevation of less than . The total land area is . The atoll rim consists of 18 major islets. Clockwise, from the Northwest, these are: * Tokerau * Painko * Ruahara * Takuua * Veseru * Tuirai * Pokerekere Islet * Kavea * Temat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Energy In The Cook Islands
The Cook Islands is a net importer of energy, in the form of petroleum products. Total energy consumption was 1,677,278,000 BTU (1.77 TJ) in 2017, of which 811,000,000 (0.86 TJ) was in the form of oil. In 2012 47% of imported oil was used in the transport sector, 30% in aviation, and 27% for electricity generation. Electricity consumption is 31.6 GWh, from 14 MW of installed generation capacity, with most load concentrated on the main island of Rarotonga. Per-capita electricity consumption is approximately two-thirds that in the European Union. Greenhouse gas emissions total 88,810 t per year, or 10.36 t per capita. Electricity in the Cook Islands was historically produced by diesel generators on each island. Fuel was imported from Auckland and required long sea voyages to get to the northern atolls, resulting in high costs and occasional supply disruptions. The major islands of Rarotonga and Manihiki had 24-hour electricity, but the smaller islands would often turn their power off ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rarotonga International Airport
Rarotonga International Airport ( rar, Papa Rererangi o Rarotonga) is the Cook Islands' main international gateway, located in the town and district of Avarua, Rarotonga, west of the downtown area on the northern coast. Originally built in 1944, the airport was expanded in the early 1970s, and officially opened for jets in January 1974. Because of the proximity of the runways to the nearby roads, it is possible to get very close to the aircraft while they are departing and landing. In July 2015, three tourists were injured by jet blast after being blown over while watching an Air New Zealand Boeing 777 take off. Consequently, in 2016, the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation warned tourist operators that they should not promote the jet blast area as a tourist attraction. History An unsealed airstrip at Nikao was originally constructed by the New Zealand Department of Public Works in 1944, with the first flight landing in November 1945. The New Zealand National Airways Corporatio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Te Mana O Te Ra Solar Farm
Te Mana O Te Ra ("The Power of The Sun") is a photovoltaic power station at Rarotonga International Airport in the Cook Islands. It is the largest solar power station in the Cook Islands. It is owned and operated by Te Aponga Uira. The array consists of 3051 solar panels and has a peak output of 960 kW. It was funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and constructed between June and September 2014 by New Zealand company Infratec Renewables Ltd. It was commissioned by Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna in October 2014. In 2017 the farm was upgraded by the addition of a 5.6 MWh battery storage system. Electricity generated by Te Mana O Te Ra is injected into the local distribution grid via an onsite 11,000V transformer. At peak output it can supply approximately 5% of Rarotonga Rarotonga is the largest and most populous of the Cook Islands. The island is volcanic, with an area of , and is home to almost 75% of the country's population, with 13,007 of a total ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mitiaro
Mitiaro, the fourth island in the Cook Islands group, is of volcanic origin. Standing in water deep it is across at its widest point. Geography Mitiaro, also known as Nukuroa, is part of the Nga-Pu-Toru island group formerly, a volcano that became a coral atoll. The coral died forming fossilised coral (known locally as ''makatea''). The island is surrounded by a belt of this makatea, between high and characteristic of islands in the southern group. The centre of the island is almost flat, quite swampy and contains two freshwater lakes, Rotonui (big lake) and Toto Iti (small lake). The lakes are teeming with eels ('' Anguilla obscura''),which the locals call itiki and who reach the lakes from the Ocean through underwater connections, and the imported tilapia from Africa where it is known as bream. Beaches are limited but there are subterranean limestone caves and the beach at low tide abounds in marine life. Important Bird Area The island has been designated an Important Bi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mauke
Mauke (Ma'uke also Akatokamanava) is an island of the Cook Islands archipelago, lying in the central-southern Pacific Ocean. Part of the Nga-pu-Toru, it is northeast of Rarotonga. Geography Mauke is a raised coral atoll, with a central volcanic plateau surrounded by a jagged fossilised coral ''makatea'' which extends up to one mile inland. A narrow layer of swamps lies between the ''makatea'' and the plateau. The entire island is surrounded by a fringing reef, pierced by six passages, and sits atop an extinct volcano rising from the ocean floor. The volcanic soil in the island's center is relatively fertile, so it is called "The Garden of the Islands". The ''makatea'' is honeycombed with caves, including the Vaitango Cave, Moti Cave and Motuanga Cave. History According to oral tradition, Mauke was discovered by Uke, and the island was named "Ma'uke" - "the land of Uke" - after him. Uke's descents then went on to settle Atiu. Another legend states a son of Ruatapu was murde ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mangaia
Mangaia (traditionally known as A'ua'u Enua, which means ''terraced'') is the most southerly of the Cook Islands and the second largest, after Rarotonga. It is a roughly circular island, with an area of , from Rarotonga. Originally heavily populated, Mangaia's population has dropped by 75% in the last 50 years. Geography Originally known as ''A'ua'u'' or ''A'ua'u Enua'' ("terraced"), the island was named Mangaia (or ''Mangaianui-Neneva'', "Mangaia monstrously-great") by Tamaeu, who came to the island from Aitutaki in 1775. Geologists estimate the island is at least 18 million years old. It rises 4750 m (15,600 ft) above the ocean floor and has a land area of 51.8 km2. Surrounded by a fringing coral reef, like many of the southern Cook Islands, it is surrounded by a high ring of cliffs of fossil coral 60 m (200 ft) high, known as the makatea. The inner rim of the ''makatea'' forms a steep cliff, surrounding swamps and a central volcanic plateau. The interi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Atiu
Atiu, also known as Enuamanu (meaning ''land of the birds''), is an island of the Cook Islands archipelago, lying in the central-southern Pacific Ocean. Part of the Nga-pu-Toru, it is northeast of Rarotonga. The island's population has dropped by two-thirds in the last 50 years. Geography Atiu is a raised volcanic island surrounded by a reef from which rise cliffs of fossilized coral (''makatea''). The makatea cliff forms a ring round the island, creating a virtual plateau. Erosion of the inside of the ring has formed a dip of about into fertile land, which gradually rises again to a central flat-topped hill. The low swampy land consists of taro plantations, marshes and a lake, Tiroto. This fertile area also grows bananas, citrus fruits, pawpaws, breadfruit and coconuts. The island is surrounded by a fringing reef. The ''makatea'' is honeycombed with caves, some of which have been used for burials. History Polynesians are believed to have lived on Atiu since at least ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Manihiki
250px, Map of Manihiki Atoll Manihiki is an atoll in the northern group of the Cook Islands known informally as the "Island of Pearls". It is located in the Northern Cook Island chain, approximately north of the capital island of Rarotonga, making it one of the most remote inhabitations in the Pacific Ocean. Its name has two possible meanings: It's believed that the original name of the island was Manuhiki, inspired by the aboriginal discovers ''Manu'' coming from the word Rua Manu (a kind of canoe) and ''Hiki'' meaning ''ashore'', so the literal translation would be ''canoe carried ashore''. The second interpretation is that the original discoverers were from Manihi, an island in Tuamotus, so the name of the island would mean ''Little Manihi''. Geography Manihiki is a roughly triangular-shaped coral atoll, consisting of approximately 43 islets (''motu'') surrounding a deep, nine kilometer wide lagoon, which is almost completely enclosed by the surrounding reef. The atoll is l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Omoka
Omoka is the larger of the two main settlements on Penrhyn Atoll in the Cook Islands. It is the location of the Penrhyn island Council, and is located on Moananui Islet in the far west of Penrhyn Atoll. The small village has two main roads running through it with four connecting roads, one of which marking the end of the village where the land ends. It is home to between 100 and 200 residents and includes approximately 150 buildings, including the islands council building, Penrhyn hospital, and a Cook Islands Christian Church The Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) is the largest religious denomination in the Cook Islands. It belongs to the Reformed family of churches. The CICC is a Christian Congregationalist church and has approximately 18,000 members,Populated places in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nassau (Cook Islands)
Nassau is an island in the northern group of the Cook Islands. It is approximately north of the capital island of Rarotonga and from Pukapuka. Lacking an airstrip, it is accessible only by boat. It is named after a 19th-century whaling ship. Its indigenous name, ''Te Nuku-o-Ngalewu'', means "Land of Ngalewu" after the Pukapukan who was put in charge of it. Geography Located south of Pukapuka, Nassau is just above sea level, with an oval sandy cay on a coral reef foundation and is surrounded by a narrow reef flat. It is covered with palms, and is the only island of the Northern Group without a lagoon. The surrounding reef is 90 to 130 metres wide on all but the north side where it's narrower. The village is located in the north-west. Inland there are rich taro swamps and fruit groves, and offshore there is good fishing. It has a population of 78, according to the 2016 census. Nassau is governed by the Pukapuka Island Council. The Nassau Island Committee advises the Pukapuka I ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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