Tonga’s first utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) project was officially opened today at an event attended by the South Pacific Kingdom''s prime minister.
Prime Minister Siaosio Sovaleni, known also by the chiefly title he holds, Honourable Huákavameiliku, was the Guest of Honour as the two systems, delivered with support from groups including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the UN Green Climate Fund, were unveiled.
The systems were commissioned in May this year, as reported by Energy-Storage.news at the time. Located on Tonga''s biggest island, Tongatapu, there is a short-duration system of 9.3MW/5.3MWh (7.2MW/3.8MWh usable) designed for grid stability applications, and a 3.3-hour duration system of 7.2MW/23.9MWh (6MW/20.88MWh usable) for renewable load shift applications.
They were built as part of the multilaterally funded Tonga Renewable Energy Project (TREP). In addition to the BESS, renewable power projects and grid upgrades and energy management technologies will be deployed at various locations, including some of the country''s outer islands.
These include two hybrid solar-plus-storage projects featuring batteries, which are aimed for completion in November this year on two outer islands, Vavaú and Éua.
The battery systems connect to the grid of Tonga Power, Tonga''s sole electric utility, which announced the inauguration event today via a sponsored post in local news outlet Matangi Tonga Online.
Installation and commissioning work was carried out by contractor Akuo, which supplied containerised BESS solutions. It all took place during the two-year pandemic enforced closure of Tonga''s borders and Akuo Asia-Pacific CEO Jean Ballandras thanked fellow stakeholders for their cooperation in making it happen.
In May, it was noted that the addition of the two systems immediately enabled Tonga to double its use of renewable energy together with the completion of a 6MW solar PV power plant, taking it to 20%.
The country has recently brought forward its target for renewables adoption, from a previously set 70% goal by 2030, to 70% by the end of 2025. The target is part of its National Determined Contribution (NDA) climate action plan.
The BESS projects cost around US$16.7 million of investment, with the wider TREP project costing just over US$50 million. It is jointly funded by the Asian Development Bank, UN Green Climate Fund and the Australian government. Tonga Power said it was assisted in implementing the project by its own national government.
The successful execution and delivery of these 2 complementary BESS projects in Tonga through the pandemic is the fruit of a trustful cooperation between ADB, TPL and Akuo. Each party has proven to be open, forward-looking and able to find solutions to install and commission the largest battery energy storage system in the South Pacific, despite a close of borders for more than 2 years.
"The project couldn''t have been delivered by Akuo without setting foot in the Kingdom if it wasn''t for the counterparts to acknowledge the worldwide situation and be focused towards the success of the start of operation of the two BESS. Akuo is very thankful to the Client and its Funders for their flexibility and efforts towards reaching a common success in providing a key element to the energy transition in Tonga via the commissioning of the two battery energy storage systems" says Jean Ballandras CEO Akuo Asia-Pacific
Tonga Power Limited continues to work collaboratively with Donor Partners and the Government of Tonga towards effective implementation of Renewable Energy projects towards achieving our National Determined Contribution of 70% Electricity generation by end of year 2025.
A consistent theme highlighted throughout the event was the importance of perseverance & collaboration throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, of all involved stakeholders towards planning, financing and implementation of this vital technological enabling component, towards Tonga''s Nationally Determined contributions of achieving its 70% Renewable Energy generation target by end of year 2025.
This project is worth a total of $16.7 million USD jointly funded by the Asian Development Bank, Green Climate Fund, and the Government of Australia, and implemented by Tonga Power Limited with assistance from the Government of Tonga. The contractor for the project was Akuo.
The successful execution and delivery of these 2 complementary BESS projects in Tonga through the pandemic is the fruit of a trustful cooperation between ADB, TPL and Akuo. Each party has proven to be open, forward-looking and able to find solutions to install and commission the largest battery energy storage system in the South Pacific, despite a close of borders for more than 2 years.
About Energy storage systems tonga
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Energy storage systems tonga have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Energy storage systems tonga for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Energy storage systems tonga featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
Related Contents
