Maama Mai Solar Facility
Tonga Power Limited is partnered with Meridian Energy Limited, the Government of Tonga and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the construction of a 1.4 MW Solar Facility. The Solar Facility is located at Tonga Power’s Popua Station, south east of Nukuálofa, Tongatapu. Tonga Power will operate the scheme, leasing it from the developer Meridian Energy for an initial five years, and then taking over ownership.
The Solar Facility will provide around 4% of electricity supplied by Tonga Power. This will reduce the country’s use of diesel by approximately 470,000 litres and decrease carbon emissions by over 2000 tonnes per annum. The project will also have a positive effect on reducing the electricity tariff.
Construction began in November 2011 and the facility is now up and running. The livening of the solar facility began in August 20th 2012 at the end of a two week commissioning programme.
Tonga Power is actively investigating other renewable (non-diesel) generation projects, aimed at relieving Tonga’s reliance on fossil fuels, and at reducing the cost of electricity to our customers.
