Recycling plant and animal waste to generate electricity could replace diesel power in Tonga, according to a visiting group of German scientists.
The German team, from Trier University of Applied Sciences, said biogas generation using waste material could immediately bring down the cost of generating power.
According to Tonga Power Ltd, more than 91% of Tonga’s electricity consumption is supplied by generators fuelled with imported diesel.
The government plans to generate half its power from renewable sources by 2020.
Biogas generation using waste material is already used to generate some household power in Tonga. In Germany it is used on an industrial scale, with 10,000 generators operating.
Most renewable energy developments in Tonga and the Pacific Islands are based on solar and wind energy, which can be affected by cloud cover and a drop in wind speed.
The German team said that it implemented properly, biogas generation created circular economy in which there was no waste
The biomass generator could also produce organic fertiliser.
It said saafa grass could be harvested and used in the biogas process.
Tonga’s Energy Minister, Hon. Poasi Tei, recently led a Pacific delegation to see how biogas was used in Germany.
“We are looking for a technology that would immediately lower the costs of power generation and be sustainable in the long term,” Hon. Tei said.
The German team was in Tonga as part of a visit organised by the Pacific Community’s Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.
They will return to the kingdom in Tonga to hold talks with the government.
Wind plant
Meanwhile, a Japanese-funded windmill is expected to supplying six percent of the kingdom’s renewable energy by June next year.
King Tupou VI recently launched construction of the wind power generator at a ground breaking ceremony at Niutoua.
The windmill is a joint project with the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA
The main points
- Recycling plant and animal waste to generate electricity could replace diesel power in Tonga, according to a visiting group of German scientists.
- The German team, from Trier University of Applied Sciences, said biogas generation using waste material could immediately bring down the cost of generating power.
- According to Tonga Power Ltd, more than 91% of Tonga’s electricity consumption is supplied by generators fuelled with imported diesel.
For more information
Tonga exploring cheaper and sustainable electricity
