What you need to know about connecting solar to the Unelco network — grid-tied, hybrid and off-grid systems explained clearly.
Better Energy designs and installs solar and battery systems for properties connected to the Unelco grid in Port Vila. Unelco does not permit back-feed to the grid — we maximise what you self-consume and use the grid as a silent automatic backup.
In Vanuatu, Unelco does not currently permit excess solar power to be fed back into the grid. This means your system is designed around self-consumption — your solar panels power your property directly during the day, and any surplus charges your batteries for use at night or during cloudy periods.
The Unelco connection remains in the background as a backup. If your solar generation is low and your batteries are depleted, the system automatically and seamlessly switches to grid power. You stay powered at all times — you're just buying far less from Unelco than before.
These terms are often used loosely. Here's a clear breakdown of what each actually means.
Any solar system connected to the Unelco network. Both on-grid and hybrid systems are grid-tied. The grid acts as an automatic backup when solar isn't enough.
Grid-tied with battery storage added. Solar charges the batteries first. Unelco only kicks in when both solar and battery are insufficient. Maximum bill reduction with full backup capability.
Fully self-contained on solar and batteries — no Unelco connection at all. Common for remote properties where connecting to the grid would be prohibitively expensive.
Note: on-grid refers specifically to a grid-tied system without batteries — solar only, with the grid as backup at night. Lower upfront cost but no protection from outages and no stored energy for the evening.
Before installing solar, it's worth making sure you're on the right Unelco subscription for your usage. We review our clients' bills as part of the design process — sometimes an inflated bill is partly a tariff or subscription mismatch rather than pure consumption.
We can help you identify billing anomalies and point you in the right direction before you spend a dollar on solar. Getting this right first means your system is sized accurately from day one.
If your property is already connected to Unelco, adding solar is straightforward. But if you're on a remote property without a grid connection and considering connecting first — think carefully.
⚠️ New grid connections in Vanuatu can be extremely costly — sometimes exceeding the cost of the solar system itself. In many cases, a well-sized off-grid solar system is the more economical long-term solution. We'll give you an honest assessment of both options.
We'll always tell you which path makes the most financial sense for your situation, even if that means a simpler or smaller system than you were expecting.
Grid-tied is the umbrella term for any system connected to the Unelco network. On-grid refers to a grid-tied system without batteries. Hybrid is a grid-tied system with battery storage included. Both are connected to Unelco — the difference is simply whether you have a battery bank or not.
Yes. A solar system can be designed to work alongside your Unelco connection, using the grid as an automatic backup when solar and battery power aren't sufficient. Note that Unelco does not currently permit excess solar to be fed back into the grid — systems are designed around self-consumption.
If you have a hybrid system with batteries, you'll stay powered through most outages without interruption. A solar-only on-grid system without batteries will shut down during an outage for safety reasons — this is standard practice globally and protects line workers during repairs.
Typically 2–6 weeks from signed agreement to commissioned system, depending on system size, site conditions, and equipment availability.
Yes, though we recommend planning for batteries from the start. Retrofitting batteries to an existing system is possible but can involve additional costs. We design with future expansion in mind where we can.
Most customers save 80–95% on their monthly Unelco bill. The exact amount depends on your usage and system size — use our calculator to get a personalised estimate.
It depends on your monthly kWh usage from your Unelco bill. Our free calculator sizes your system in minutes — or call us on +678 22038 and we’ll work it out together.
The information on this page reflects our understanding of Unelco's current policies and connection requirements at the time of writing. Regulations, tariffs, and procedures can change. We strongly recommend verifying current requirements directly with Unelco before making any decisions. Better Energy provides this information in good faith as general guidance only and accepts no liability for decisions made based on this content.
Get in touch — we'll review your situation and give you an honest recommendation, no obligation.