Tonga's Outer Islands Renewable Energy Project for nine islands is now around 71% completed. It aims to help reduce the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuel for power generation by providing on-grid and off-grid generation solar power, reports MEIDECC's Department of Energy, who manages the project.

The project is constructing and installing solar power systems with a total capacity of 1.32 megawatt-peak (MWp) on nine outer islands, as well as rehabilitating the existing grid networks of Tonga Power Ltd. on the islands of ‘Eua and Vava’u. Training on operations and maintenance is also being conducted.

The project has four separate phases of on-grid generation, Mini-grid generation, on-grid distribution and mini-grid distribution, some of which have been completed, while others are being implemented.

The completed phases are;

• On-grid generation (solar and batteries) – installation of solar photovoltanic generators and connection to the existing distribution networks (200 kWp on ‘Eua, Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) repair program on Vava’u and 500 550kWp Solar and 330kWh Battery Storage on Ha’apai);
• Mini-grid generation (thermal generation, solar and batteries) – rehabilitation of 160 solar home systems in Niuafo’ou and a solar system for the island’s health clinic;
• On-grid distribution 100% rehabilitation of the existing grid network on ‘Eua;
• Mini-grid distribution (network and residential house wiring) – residential house wiring on Nomuka, Ha’afeva, Hā’ano and ‘Uiha completed last year.

On Niuatoputapu, and four outer islands in Ha’apai (‘Uiha, Nomuka, Ha'ano and Ha’afeva) solar photovoltaic generators will soon be installed and connected to the existing community-owned and community-managed electrical mini-grids.

In Vava'u, the rehabilitation of 100% of the existing grid network, under the on-grid distribution work is scheduled to be completed by Tong Power Ltd. in April next year.

Niuatoputapu

Equipment to complete the construction of Niuatoputapu's new mini-grid was shipped on the MV Taka-‘i- Pomana on 22 June. Acting Director of Energy Department ‘Ofa Sefana and team including Tonga Power Ltd. staff, delivered the equipment to the outer island. The residential house wiring is anticipated to be completed in September.

In Ha'apai, The upgrade of the existing service lines on four of Ha’apai’s outer islands is scheduled to be completed by July 2023.

MEIDECC is expected to also carry out consultations and formalise the institutional setup for the operations and maintenance on Ha’apai’s four outer islands and Niuatoputapu. A series of consultations were conducted in 2019-2021 and planned  to continue from June this year.

The multi-donor project is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and co-financed by Australia, the European Union, and the Second Danish Cooperation Fund for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for Rural Areas and the Global Environment Facility.