A solar power project proposal submitted by Tonga High School has won $100,000 (USD) funding from the Zayed Future Energy Prizes for 2014, presented in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on January 20.

Tonga High School was one of five winners of the category for Global High Schools Prizes.

Mauiana Lemoto, the Deputy Principal of Tonga High School, said that the proposal to establish a Solar Power Project for Tonga High School was prepared by herself and another teacher. The solar project aimed to meet the school’s total electricity needs, and if they produced surplus power then they planned to feed it to the main electricity grid to be used by the community.

A team from the UAE was in Tonga last year to assess their project proposal.

"I think we have the good Lord on our side," said Mauiana.

Over 100 schools world-wide competed for the $100,000 (USD) prize. Mauiana believed that the assessors were impressed because Tonga High School is highly regarded by Tongans, and therefore their solar power project would promote the greater use of solar energy in Tonga.

Mauiana along with the THS principal, 'Ameline Folaumahina, and a school girl, 'Ailine Teumohenga attended the prize giving ceremony, held at the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi last week.

The four other winners of the 2014 Global High Schools Prizes were the New York-based Bronx Design and Construction Academy, USA; the Gheorghe Rosca Codreanu National College, Europe; the Nkhaa Bay School Aushotiry in Malawi, Africa; and Kalkeri Sangeet vidyalaya in India.

The prizes were awarded by General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The Zayed Future Energy Prizes were launched six years ago to mark the commitment of the President of the UAE, HH Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan who has placed sustainable development at the core of the UAE national strategy.

The annual US$4 million prize, established by the UAE government, recognizes companies, organizations, schools and individuals across the world that have made significant contributions to the future of renewable energy and sustainability.

The total of US$4 million prizes are awarded annually in five distinct categories; Large Corporation, Lifetime Achievement, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Non-Government Organisation and the Global High Schools Prize.