Page 26 - IB January 2024

Renewable Energy

smart meters that can be used to run the systems more new electricity sources in the outer islands.
efficiently and sustainably,” he told Islands Business. “While ADB does not have any rural electrification projects
“The villagers of Buca and Tiliva will be allowed to use the in the pipeline for Tonga, distribution network upgrade
power generation facilities and also assume the operation projects are in the pipeline,” Shiihara told Islands Business.
and management responsibilities of the facilities under the He said the US$44.6 million project, approved in March
Department of Environment,” added Shiri Gounder, Fiji’s 2019 and funded by ADB, the Green Climate Fund and the
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Finance, Strategic Australian government, aims to reduce Tonga’s dependence on
Planning, and National Development and Statistics. imported fossil fuel for power generation.
“Solar and hydro have been the largest sources of Tonga imports diesel for over 75% of its electricity needs.
renewable energy in the Pacific, but new technologies are “The country is highly vulnerable to fluctuations in
emerging. Wind energy, geothermal energy, and now, wave international fuel prices, and the government is planning to
technology is being explored,” said Batten. increase the use of renewable energy in order to lower diesel
“The majority of our work has been supporting Pacific imports, increase energy security, and reduce the cost of
Island governments to upgrade their energy grids and electricity,” the Asian Development Bank said in a statement.
transmission system, because a key constraint on putting According to Shiihara, ADB’s Outer Island Renewable Energy
more renewables into the grid has been the energy Project in Tonga, which supplies solar power to households,
transmission system, so there’s been a large focus on that,” schools, and other public facilities on the islands of ‘Eua,
he said. Ha’apai, and Vava’u, closed on December 31, 2023.
ADB’s Renewable Energy Project in Tonga is expected to The project’s solar generating facilities are expected to
complete delivery of all outputs by the end of 2024, says reduce diesel imports by an estimated 480,000 litres a year.
Shiihara. Outputs include a large battery energy storage ADB is also contributing towards the Tuvalu government’s
system to ensure that the intermittent electricity generated target of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2025 with a
from solar photovoltaic and wind power can be stored and project that will transform Funafuti and selected outer island
used overnight; electricity generation from the most feasible power systems by replacing diesel power with solar power.
renewable resources in Tonga, including in the outer islands; The project is expected to displace 6.7 million litres of diesel
and grid technologies and management upgrade to adapt to fuel and avoid 17,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in
greenhouse gas emissions over its lifetime.

26 Islands Business, January 2024