28th September 2016 The Deputy Prime Minister Hon Siaosi Sovaleni, commissioned Tonga Police solar system this morning at the Tonga Police Training College at Longolongo funded by the Australian and New Zealand Governments under Tonga Police Development Program.
Hon Sovaleni stated that the Tonga Police solar project was crucial to mitigating the existential threat posed by Climate Change and will reduce our dependency on diesel.
“This will not only reduce our carbon emissions, but will also reduce our dependency on diesel fuel, reduce our imports and making electricity more affordable,” he said.
Hon Sovaleni explained that the Government of Tonga intended to lessen carbon emissions by increasing electricity generation from renewable energy.
“To help fight climate change, Tonga intends to reduce carbon emissions, as outlined in our National Determined Contribution, and we are committed to increasing our electricity generation from renewable energy to 50% by 2020 and 75% by 2030.”
“The solar project will enhance the operational capacity of Tonga Police through access to a reliable source of electricity, reduce operational costs, and contribute to Government’s efforts to reach 50% renewable generation by 2020.”
“But more importantly at least to me, is that it showcase the mindset that we need to achieve this target and to move forward, we all need to work together, not just putting up buildings, it’s not just Tonga Power Ltd or Police, but all of us, to achieve some these targets we need to have a more holistic approach as demonstrated by this project under the Tonga Police Development Program.”
Police Commissioner Stephen J. Caldwell said the solar project would improve the operational capacity of Tonga Police.
“This initiative will not only enhance the operational capacity of Tonga Police through access to a reliable source of electricity 24 hours, seven days a week, more importantly perhaps it will also aid the Tongan Government’s priority to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels through use of renewable energy.”
According to Caldwell solar systems have been installed at various police stations throughout Tongatapu.
“Through the assistance of the Australian Federal Police and New Zealand Police working under the Tonga Police Development Program, solar systems have been installed at various police stations throughout Tongatapu, including Nukunuku, Vaini and Mu’a. Construction is also underway in Nomuka.”
CEO of Tonga Power Ltd Mr. Robert Mathews told guests that the new solar system would hopefully be the standard for the expansion of a national solar photo-voltaic distributive energy program.
“It is hoped that this will set a benchmark for the future expansion of a national solar photo-voltaic distributive energy program that aims to feed energy harvested from the sun into the power grid,” he said.
“This is an exciting project and I believe sets an excellent example and a significant leap towards the development of renewable forms of electricity generation in Tonga, which hopefully encourage others to consider a similar approach to develop renewable energy projects in the future.”
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications