Tonga's TPL signs 6-MW solar PPA with Sunergise New Zealand

Tonga Power Ltd (TPL) has signed a 6-MW solar power purchase agreement with Sunergise New Zealand Ltd, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced today.

Under the 25-year deal, Sunergise will finance, build and operate a photovoltaic (PV) farm on Tongatapu island.

Covering more than three sites, the solar facility will be the second largest in the Pacific and the second commercially financed public-private partnership (PPP) in the country, ADB said.

Expected to begin operations by April 2020, the plant should be able to generate 10 GWh per year, equivalent to 15% of all of Tonga’s anticipated electricity demand.

The project, which is part of TPL’s Renewable Energy Program, will help Tonga reduce power costs and reach its goal of at least 50% of its power coming from renewable sources by 2020, the bank noted.

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