Tonga High School celebrates launch of solar project [1]
Thursday, June 4, 2015 - 22:13. Updated on Thursday, June 4, 2015 - 22:25.
Photos by Caroline Manu Moli
Tonga High School marked its 68th Anniversary today 4 June, with the launch of new solar panels that can provide up to 70 percent of the school's electricity demands.
The Speaker of Parliament Lord Tu’ivakano unveiled a plaque for the solar project after an anniversary commemorative service.
The project was funded with Tonga High School’s prize money of US$100,000 - a grant from Zayed Future Energy Prizes for 2014. The school's solar power project proposal was one of five winners for the Global High Schools Prizes category that was presented in Abu Dhabi, UAE in January last year.
Saia Helu the General Manager of JH Electrical Services, one of the project contractors, said they installed the 10-kilowatt solar system consisting of 40 panels.
In addition, 20 outdoor lighting poles were installed on the school grounds.
Principal ‘Amelia Folaumahina said the event was a double celebration not only to mark the school’s anniversary but to launch the solar project that will help cut down the school's power costs.
“We are very happy and proud to launch the solar project that was funded with our prize money that we won from our solar proposal,” she said.
Cultural entertainment was performed by students to mark the occasion.