How much does it cost to store solar power in Tonga

Why is electricity so expensive in Tonga?

This has contributed to the Tongan economy and electricity consumers being exposed to high and volatile electricity prices due to fluctuations in the price of oil internationally. According to UK-based aggregate website Cable, Tonga's electricity is the 13th most expensive in the world, at an average cost of USD 0.35 per kilowatt hour (kWh).

Can Australia help secure Tonga's outer island energy needs?

Australia also has a long history of engagement in relation to helping secure Tonga’s outer island energy needs. In the early 2000s, Australia funded the Ha’apai Outer Islands Electrification project (HOIEP), which involved the installation of diesel-powered generators and electrical reticulation on four islands in the Ha’apai group.

How many people have access to electricity in Tonga?

This means that little more than 30,000 people are spread across 35 islands, presenting acute issues in terms of the provision of modern infrastructure. At OIREP commencement, the ADB estimated that 89% of all households across Tonga had access to electricity.

How much would a new solar plant cost?

Discussions with TPL and both OIREP and TREP PMUs suggest that a realistic, short-term approach would be the installation of an additional 1.8MW of solar power and rehabilitation of the existing solar plant (420kW La'a Lahi Solar Farm installed by the United Arab Emirates in 2013), at an estimated cost of USD 3 million.