Tonga’s King Tupou VI has today officially inaugurated the country’s largest PV plant. The Matatoa Solar Project was built and is being operated by the Chinese company Zhuhai Singyes Green Building Technology CO. Ltd.
“The plant should save Tonga 680, 000 litres of diesel over the first year and displaces 1,600 tons of carbon dioxide not being emitted to the atmosphere”, said the Minister of Public Enterprises and MEIDECC, Hon Poasi Tei.
The project was built at a cost of $4.4 million and is the largest Independent Power Producer investment in Tonga. The facility is selling power to the local utility Tonga Power Ltd. at 0.33 TOP ($0.148)/kWg. Zhuhau Singyes secured the 25-year PPA for the project in September 2016.
“The solar plant alone is expected to add another 5% towards the nation’s renewable energy target”, said the Minister for Public Enterprises and MEIDECC, Hon. Poasi Tei.
Tonga is targeting to achieve 50% renewable energy generation by 2020.
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