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Exide Technologies CEO Jim Bolch discusses how the small island chain is able to run on solar power.
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Next maybe -- hood of -- law.
It is a tiny islands in the South Pacific the entire island is -- entirely by green energy.
It done that by a company called Exide Technologies and joining us now is Jim Walsh he is the CEO of Exide Technologies Jim -- -- program.
More sort thank you rather obvious -- on this program for long time these huge wind and solar projects do not walk.
But on a very small scale with an individual offices and houses solar and wind -- book that's what you've gone into -- -- is that.
I think that's exactly right store we've taken of a proven technology.
And we've gone into a tool a location -- they really got another and then another solution they're using.
Diesel generators and trucking -- across the ocean power he got a lot of sunshine in the South Pacific -- clearly and I.
Until innovative and you've got these -- -- -- on every house is that hated it.
There there's a -- a large -- on these three of tolls and make up the islanders over 4000.
-- solar panels and is backed up what -- batteries can.
Any subsidies involved.
It's it's and was underwritten by the new New Zealand agency for national development.
So between.
New Zealand and and -- -- -- -- they funded -- so they paid for the installation of all of this stuff that's correct okay and did did they get their money back.
I don't know what the arrangement is between the island of focal -- New Zealand but.
You know they -- underwriter and you wind power.
And no not this case is also or that said this island is -- non chain or -- group it's orient holes that that are about 500 miles.
North of -- and about 15100 people in total.
Is this tiny speck we've got a map -- and -- is expect anyway you slice it how big is it.
It's it's a that's a tiny in terms of -- elected to central pop a bit -- bit larger but not much how many people.
15100 -- 15100 people but totally green totally granddaughter so what do you attribute my basic premise -- these huge wind bombs that creates some wind energy some electricity.
You can't transport via -- without losing it in the power lines that don't look big projects don't look.
But small projects like -- as does -- driven I think by and large that's true I started my current solar 35 years ago so my first jobs.
I think that is much is now you have to you have to justified economically estimates rise exactly and so for applications where the alternative like -- allow is very expensive it's an absence of -- -- that idea.
So if you could use this whole principle small scale all -- you could use that to a small community in -- market -- -- they -- no difference that we -- isn't anywhere the question is is it economically justifiable and in the case.
And a case of the Americas typically you're gonna have another source of power that might be less expensive obviously the focal.
-- so it would not be economically viable if you put this some small town in Arizona for an example.
I think it all depends on what that what they're they're source of energy as if they have electricity available off the group it may not.
Can you locked on and in -- -- -- lifetime and engineering and manufacturing -- have to be that was my first job was -- have you ever been to talk allow I have not -- -- very difficult to get to it so they have one -- that goes every two weeks from some law that's it and if you missed the period when another two weeks what do people do and took allow.
Well I assume now they've they enjoy the -- solar solar energy that they have -- -- -- of -- there's there's been an Arab cultural commuter through you did do this and many other Ryland.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I guess -- commercial -- that's held up north what's what's the outlook -- all costs to wire -- old solar power 15100 people want.
Fall in the South Pacific I couldn't tell the total cost the project the the better what was your contract fall our our our country with a longer two million dollars two million dollars to 15100 people.
That was that was all the battery back up are you comfortable taking New Zealand tax -- dollars and spending them on three holes in the South Pacific.
Well I think the rush off to what it was in the -- so it makes sense for us but I think an exit for the people who live there are eager to get on the show -- district big.
Come back absolutely.
Liberal idea Jim Walsh Exide Technologies CEO thank you for joining us thank you would appreciate -- opportunity okay.
