Lord Tu'ivakano switches on the Nakolo wind turbine. Tongatapu, 14 June 2013.

Tonga's first 11kW wind turbine was switched on by the Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano, on June 14 at Nakolo in Tongatapu. The Tonga Power Ltd. project aims to prove the viability of wind generation in order to make a larger wind farm in the future.

The new technology will provide Tonga Power staff with experience in wind generation to ensure power can be generated constantly and that there is enough wind resource at the location.

Tonga Power has put forward a proposal to Gaia-Wind to secure low interest funding for the installation another four turbines in Tonga, through the assistance of the UK government.

Renewable Energy

Setitaia Chen, the Wind Turbine Project Manager, said that by showing that wind generation is viable in Tonga it would help to lessen our reliance on diesel while working towards the goal set by the Government of Tonga through the Tonga Energy Road Map of 50 percent renewable energy.

He said the wind turbine had already begun harnessing the energy from the wind and producing electricity over the last month since its installation was completed. "As Tonga moves into the future of power generation, today marks a milestone for Tonga Power in the development of wind generation and the only way to go now is forward with wind," he said.

The wind turbine will generate approximately 27,000 kW hrs of electricity, enough to generate power to 23 homes. It is 18.4m high and weighs just over 4,000kg, while its 13-meters long turbine blade weighs around 200kg.