NUKU’ALOFA, TONGA (18th July 2019) — Tonga’s first Large scaled Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will be built at the Popua Power Station after an agreement was signed today between Tonga Power Limited and Akuo Energy SAS, an energy company specializing in developing and operating renewable energy power plants.

Battery Energy Storage Systems are a vital component to reaching Tonga’s 50% Renewable Energy target by end of year 2020. Battery Energy storage systems will be able to store renewable energy generated from our existing solar and wind generation sites and distribute it to the people of Tonga when required. This first Battery Storage system main function will be grid stability while an upcoming Battery Energy Storage System project will focus on load shifting.

As stated by CEO Setitaia Chen, “This project will enable more capacity to install further Renewable Energy Generation projects from wind and solar energy to achieve our national target of 50% Renewable Energy by year 2020”. 

The project will consist of 3 forty foot containers and one 20 ft container with Samsung Lithium Ion Batteries, and inverters to convert power from AC to DC to enable storage of power generated and vice versa as power is fed back into the grid. The Battery Storage system has a power capacity of 5MW and Storage Capacity of 2.5MWh. 

The project is expected to begin its planning and construction in the upcoming months and begin operations in May 2020.


The agreement was signed by TPL CEO Mr. Setitaia Chen and Akuo Energy Chief Operation Officer, Adrien Nayan Bock. In presence of the signing, was Honorable Poasi Tei, Minister for MEIDECC and distinguished Dignitaries from the Government of Tonga, Mrs. Tracy Mc Martin Deputy High Commissioner for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Tatafu Moeaki, Asian Development Bank Country Coordinator for Tonga.