King commissions largest solar power plant in Tonga

King Tupou VI commissioned Tonga’s new 6MW solar power plant at Fualu on 7 December

Story and Photos by Linny Folau

King Tupou VI commissioned Tonga’s new 6.9MW solar power plant at Fualu, Tongatapu, on 7 December, which will assist Government's plans to reduce the country's reliance on imported fossil fuels, while striving to achieve a vision of a future with renewable energy.

Accompanied by Queen Nanasipau'u, the King took a short tour of the Sunergise Tongatapu Solar Plant, the largest of its kind in the South Pacific. It was built as part of a power purchase agreement between Sunergise New Zealand Limited, aTodd Corporation solar company and Tonga Power Limited, with support from the Asian Development Bank.

The plant can produce 6.9MWp of renewable power, helping lower power costs to the country, while producing enough renewable energy to offset 18% of Tongatapu’s current diesel-powered generation.

Producing energy since August this year, and providing power for up to 10,336 households, the solar plant is helping theGovernment of Tonga pursue its National Energy Roadmap plans to see up to 70% of Tongatapu’s electricity generation sourced from renewables by the end of 2025.

Power costs all time high

Prime Minister, Hon. Hu’akavameiliku said Tonga was currently witnessing first-hand the negative impacts of heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels for electricity generation, with approximately 87% of our power generation mix from diesel generation.

"The cost of electricity is at all-time high, especially with recent impacts of COVID -19 and the war, on oil prices in the worldwide market.

“We understand that the transition to renewable energy is not a simple task, but is one often faced with many challenges,and as a nation we must do our part to ensure that future generations will witness all the hard work that we have completed towards our transition to renewable energy."

He said the successful completion of the Sunergise’s 6MW Independent Power Producer solar generation system today, demonstrated the major role Renewable Energy Independent power producers played towards achieving our 70% target by end of year 2025.

Sunergise International

“Although, majority of our renewable generation sites are from donor partners who are with us here today, Tonga will also need to pursue the partnership and collaborations from independent power producers,” said the Prime Minister.

Sunergise International Ltd Chief Operating Officer, David Mulholland said Sunergise has a long history in the Pacific and is aligned with Tonga’s inspirational vision for a future with renewable energy.

"Getting to this point, through COVID-19 lockdowns and a devastating tsunami is testament to the dedication and skills of our people and partners in Tonga.

“During the pandemic, we were fortunate to be granted one of the first exemptions for non- residents to assist with the scaling up and training of the local workforce. Then the devastating submarine volcano and tsunami hit. While, we were greatly concerned for the people of Tonga, when communications were finally re-established the teams from Sunergise,Clay Energy, Tonga Power just got on and got the job done.”

Acting Tonga Power CEO, Finau Moa said this was by far the largest solar generation project in Tonga.

"Ensuring sustainable power generation supply for our communities of Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Ha'apai and Vava’u means transitioning to a sustainable source of power generation, which is in fact renewable energy."

Energy
Comprising three interconnected 2.3MWp ground mounted solar arrays on western Tongatapu, the construction phase successfully met the extreme challenges presented by the 2022 Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruption and resulting tsunami, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local Tongan civil, mechanical and electrical sub-contractors were engaged to work under the supervision of Sunergise engineering subsidiary Clay Energy and accounted for up to 70% of the construction labour for the project.

As a result, Tongan companies also developed extensive experience in the construction of large solar power plants,increasing Tonga’s in-country renewable energy skills capacity.
Equipment selection and system design, for all three sites, was based on the need for longevity, climate resilience and ease of maintenance, given the maritime environment and tropical conditions at Tongatapu

“Sunergise is the leading developer and operator of solar generation in the Pacific Islands and has delivered over 20MW of solar power implementations in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and the South Pacific.”

Guests included the Australian High Commissioner, HE Rachael Moore, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr. SanakaSamarasinha, Bruce Clay of Sunergise owned company Clay Energy, Chairman of the Common Utilities Board of Directors,Tapu Panuve with Deputy Chairman, Lord Lasike, among others.

Original Link : https://matangitonga.to/2022/12/08/king-commissions-largest-solar-power-...">King commissions largest solar power plant in Tonga | Matangitonga