Photos by Pesi Fonua

The new Mata ‘o e La‘a Solar Facility that will provide 3% of Tongatapu's energy demand with green energy, was received for Tonga by HM King Tupou VI at Vaini in an official handover of the project this morning, 29 May.

The 1 megawatt solar generation facility, which was named by the King, will provide 3% of Tongatapu’s total electricity demands with green energy, and reduce Tonga’s diesel fuel annual import by about 327,000 litres.

The existing Maama Mai Solar Power station at Manumataongo Bay will be connected by a 13 km fibre-optic cable to the Mata ‘o e La’a Solar Facility which has an innovative  Stabilizing Capacitor and a Micro-grid Control System, which stabilises the solar energy so that it can operate with the existing diesel geneerators at the Popua Power Station.

The 1 megawatt solar facility, was financed with a USD$15 million Grant Aid from the Japanese government and a $1 million pa’anga contribution from Tonga Power Ltd, for the provision of land and project support. The facility was constructed by a Consortium of NBK Corporation and Fuji Electric Co. Ltd., with Yachiyo Engineering Co Ltd as the main consultant.

Following the launching of the solar facility by the king, the occasion was marked with a Japanese Kagamiwari Ceremoney when two containers of Saki were cracked open for a toast by VIPs.

TERM

The Minister of Public Enterprises Hon. Poasi Tei said the groundwork started last year, but the vision that became a reality today had started with the Tonga Energy Road Map three years ago, with an aim to reduce Tonga's vulnerability to oil price shocks and to reduce the cost of electricity for the people of Tonga.

The Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni in his keynote address said that TERM was aiming to reduce Tonga's dependence on fossil fuels by 50 per cent by the year 2020. He said that an important part of the grant aid was for the batteries at the solar plant. He also thanked the Japanese Government for supporting the solar homes initiative for 550 homes on the small islands of 'Atata, 'Eueiki, and in Vava'u.

“I believe this is the beginning of a journey together for renewable energy for Tonga,” he said, and added that soon a new $ 4 million project would provide solar water pumps to improve the lives of people in the outer islands of Vava'u. Tonga with its development partners Japan and New Zealand were also looking at new renewable energy projects for Tonga, in wind and biomass solutions.

“Less money allocated for power bills gives families more for their education and health needs, and gives businesses more for development and creating jobs,” he said.

Protecting the earth

The Ambassador of Japan  HE Mr Yukio Numata said he was honoured to begin his term in Tonga by entrusting to the people of Tonga the new Mata ‘o e La‘a Solar Facility, which had been funded through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Tonga. It demonstrated the commitment by the Government of Japan to sustainable development in the Pacific. “Tonga and developing Pacific states are severely impacted by climate change, economic depression and other global impacts,” he said. “The benefits of solar energy are limitless - it is a source of energy that is environmentally friendly.”

The ambassador also noted that with Tonga's reliance on importing fossil fuels that a petroleum disaster could have grave consequences to the environment for a very long time.

“Thi project assists Tonga's determination to protect life and dignity. There will be close co-operation with Japan, New Zealand and Tonga for the future to attend to human security,” he said.

Mr Numata said that the name “Mata ‘o e La‘a” was His Majesty's inspiration from a Free Wesleyan Church hymn and a reminder to all to appreciate nature. “It is also a reminder of Japan's steadfast commitment to protecting the earth and our close and deeply valued friendship between Japan and Tonga,” he said.

Carl Sanft, the chairman of the Tonga Power Ltd. board, said that without renewable energy the electricity tariffs would be higher. The solar facility could generate up to 1.3 GWH per year and the solar generation was saving the equivalent of $563,000 pa'anga a year in fuel costs.

The solar facility was built at a cost of about $28 million pa'anga of which $26.9 million was Japanese funding and $1.1 million Tonga Power Ltd funding. The project included the microgrid system $9.3 million, photovoltaics $10.24 million, installation $7.2 million and training $547,000.