Largest solar power park in Tonga to go online this month

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Having broken ground last year, with an investment of US$6.6 million from the coffers of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Aid Programme, Tonga’s first and largest grid-connected solar park is to go online on July 24. The new solar power plant at the Popua Power Station, south-east of the island capital of Nuku’alofa on Tongatapu will have a total capacity of 1.3MW and will be supplied with Conergy Australia’s mounting systems.

The Government of Tonga is placing emphasis on renewable energy sources and has set ambitious targets with its “Energy Roadmap 2010-20”. By the end of 2012, this island state in the South Pacific intends to extract half of its power from renewable sources.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The archipelago which forms part of Polynesia and is made up of 169 islands, 36 of which are inhabited, is currently totally dependent on diesel generators for its electricity supply. This involves high import costs for the kingdom.

“The Popua solar energy plant is supplying as much as 4% of Tongatapu's energy requirements”, says Conergy Australia managing director Rodger Meads. “That also means that the island nation saves the cost of 470,000 litres of expensive diesel fuel and avoids emitting 2,000 tonnes of CO2 each year. The benefits of the project are, therefore, twofold: it spares the environment and has a positive effect on energy costs. That is why we are pleased to be able to contribute to this unique project.”

The power plant's project developer is Meridian Energy from New Zealand. The solar company Reid Technology, also from New Zealand, is responsible for the implementation.

Reid Technology and Conergy have been collaborating since 2007. The two partners are now successfully continuing their cooperation with the supply of the 1.3MW Conergy SolarGiant mounting system for the Tongan project. The operator is the Tongan energy supplier, Popua Power. In the future, the power plant will supply approximately 1,880MWh annually of clean solar power for the population of Tongatapu.
 

Read Next

September 5, 2025
US solar tracker manufacturer Nextracker has launched a new electrical balance of systems (eBOS) trunk connector.
September 5, 2025
Scientists from Germany and Saudi Arabia have discovered that perovskite thin-film cells are compatible with current industry standard silicon solar cells, which they claim is a “crucial step toward the industrialisation of perovskite silicon tandem solar cells”.
September 5, 2025
During a week of major US clean energy developments, ContourGlobal, PSE, Arevon, and Ameren Missouri advanced solar projects across four states in the US.
September 5, 2025
Newly formed firm Solaris Assets has acquired the business operations and assets of Texas-based residential solar installer Sunnova.
September 5, 2025
US solar tracker manufacturer Array Technologies has announced that two of its tracking systems are compatible with 2,000V solar systems.
September 5, 2025
Research firm Rystad Energy has found that Queensland’s utility-scale solar PV power plants have dominated the best-performing assets, in terms of AC capacity factor, rankings for August 2025.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines