July 3, 2026
A room full of industry leaders, partners and supporters gathered at the Museum of Sydney on the evening of the 2nd of July, for a screening of Powering the Pacific: Morere Village, PNG, a documentary showcasing how renewable energy is transforming everyday life in one of Papua New Guinea’s most remote communities.
The Smart Energy Council was proud to support the event, with Chief Strategy Officer Nigel Morris moderating the post-screening Q&A and Business Development Executive Thornton De Voy attending in support of our essential member Smart Commercial Energy and the partners who helped deliver the project.
The documentary follows Smart Commercial Energy Managing Director Huon Hoogesteger, alongside Lauren James and Selar Henderson from Future Value Global and Joe Deionno from Deionno Electrical & Solar, as they work with local villagers to design and install an off-grid solar and battery microgrid in Morere Village.
For the people of Morere, reliable electricity was something they had never experienced.
Like many remote communities across Papua New Guinea, the village had never been connected to the electricity grid, with families relying on limited and inconsistent energy sources that restricted daily life, business opportunities and access to essential services.
Working alongside Future Value Global, Deionno Electrical & Solar and local community members, Smart Commercial Energy designed and delivered an off-grid renewable energy system that now provides reliable electricity to homes and shared community infrastructure while creating opportunities for long-term economic development.
Delivering renewable power where it matters most
The completed microgrid includes
- 30kW off-grid solar PV system
- 48kWh battery energy storage system
- 30kW three-phase inverter
- Reliable renewable electricity for 20 households and shared community facilities.
Designed specifically for remote tropical conditions, the system combines solar generation with Jinko Solar panels, Schletter mounting systems, and Sigenergy’s modular SigenStor battery platform, providing a resilient solution that can continue operating with limited maintenance support.
Installation presented significant logistical challenges. Every component had to be transported into an isolated coastal village with limited infrastructure, while the project team worked in temperatures approaching 40°C, high humidity and challenging site conditions.
Despite equipment delays and the inevitable surprises that come with remote construction, the team successfully commissioned the system with the support of local community members, who worked alongside the installers throughout the build.
The project included construction of the village-wide electrical distribution network, installation of switchboards and protection systems, and connections providing lighting and power to every home.
More than electricity
While the system now provides reliable power for 20 households, its impact extends well beyond household energy.
A central walk-in chiller powered by the microgrid enables seafood and agricultural products to be safely stored for longer, reducing spoilage and creating new opportunities for local producers to access broader markets.
As Lauren James, Co-founder and Director of Future Value Global, explains:
“What’s really exciting is yes, it powers 20 households within the village, but it also powers a walk-in chiller. We believe that is part of the key to unlocking economic prosperity within this community through productive use.”
Future Value Global Founder and Chief Executive Selar Henderson says the need for projects like Morere remains significant.
“PNG is still struggling with only 17% of its population connected to electricity, but in the remote areas that we are operating in, it is effectively 100% that do not have power. The need is everywhere.”
Today, the system is managed through a community cooperative, supported by Future Value Global’s ongoing governance model to help ensure the infrastructure continues delivering long-term benefits.
Celebrating collaboration across the industry
The screening brought together customers, partners and supporters from across the renewable energy industry to celebrate the completion of the Morere Village project and the collaboration that made it possible.
The evening recognised the contributions of delivery partners Future Value Global and Deionno Electrical & Solar, together with technology partners Jinko Solar, Sigenergy and Schletter, whose mounting systems formed part of the Morere Village installation. Event sponsors Tradezone, Greentech AUS and Schletter Aust/NZ/Pacific Islands also helped make the screening possible.
The organisers also acknowledged the Smart Energy Council for its support, with Nigel Morris moderating the evening’s Q&A following the documentary screening.
Reflecting on the project, Nigel said:
“I love it when I’m reminded why I started in solar. Last night I was privileged to help share the story of a recent project that brought refrigeration, light and communication to a village for the first time.
Huge congratulations to Smart Commercial Energy and Huon Hoogesteger for going above and beyond to deliver such a great project.
Transforming life through sustainable clean energy is what wise old friends coined right livelihood.”
Renewable energy creating lasting impact
Around 1.5 million households across Papua New Guinea still live without reliable electricity.
The Morere Village project demonstrates how practical renewable energy solutions, strong partnerships and local community involvement can provide reliable electricity in places where traditional grid infrastructure may never reach.
For Smart Commercial Energy and everyone involved, the project is an example of how renewable energy can improve quality of life, strengthen local economies and create opportunities that extend far beyond the provision of electricity.
As the documentary demonstrates, projects like Morere Village remind us that the renewable energy transition is not only about decarbonisation—it is also about improving lives, supporting resilient communities and expanding access to reliable, affordable energy where it is needed most.
Watch Powering the Pacific: Morere Village, PNG on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9Qjad30gSZY
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Media Contacts
Smart Energy Council Media contact: Tim Lamacraft – tim@smartenergy.org.au – 0448 972 192
