New Delhi: The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Government of Tonga, and the Government of Australia have commissioned a hybrid mini-grid on the island of Niuafo’ou. The new grid is part of the cofinanced Tonga Renewable Energy Project and will provide clean, reliable, and efficient electricity supply to the island’s residents and businesses up to 24 hours per day, a press release stated.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala and Crown Princess Sinaitakala Tuku’aho, ADB Senior Country Officer Balwyn Fa’otusia, Australian High Commissioner for Tonga Brek Batley, and Tonga Minister for Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Risk Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communication Fekita ‘Utoikamanu.
“Tonga is obviously preparing for a renewable energy future by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and initiating projects like the Tonga Renewable Energy Project,” said Keiju Mitsuhashi, the Director of ADB’s Energy Sector Group as he reiterated support of the ADB for Tonga’s energy transition ambitions.
The Tonga Renewable Energy Project with a total cost of $53.2 million is cofinanced by ADB, Green Climate Fund, the governments of Tonga and Australia, and TPL. It has successfully installed a battery energy storage system and modernized Tonga Power Limited’s (TPL) central control center on Tongatapu. The project has also installed solar photovoltaic plants and battery energy storage systems on ‘Eua and Vava’u.
The $12.2 million ADB financing is sourced from the Asian Development Fund, which provides grants to ADB’s poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries, the release iterated.