Projects & Programmes
Clean energy policy and regulation in Tonga

Our Portfolio

Clean energy policy and regulation in Tonga

Background

In 2008, Tonga passed the Renewable Energy Bill of 2008, making it the first Pacific island country to have this type of key instrument for promoting renewable energy. The emergence of the law itself was the product of strong regional cooperation: it was drafted by PIEPSAP (Pacific Islands Energy Policy and Strategic Action Plan, through the Danish Government) and reviewed by PIGGAREP (A GEF/UNDP funded through South Pacific Regional Environmental Program’s “Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy Project”).

Purpose

To strengthen the regulatory capacity of the Energy Division (ED) of the Ministry of Lands, Survey, Natural Resources (MLSNR) in Tonga, helping to operationalise the Renewable Energy Bill of 2008 and to assist in the drafting of an energy efficiency policy, setting the stage for the drafting of an EE bill.

Main Activities

Advise the MLSNR on the composition, the most feasible physical set up and financial implications of the RE Authority and Advisory Committee, and how the ED could operate as the Secretariat mandated by the RE Act
Hold consultation meetings relating to the licensing of RE operators, technical and safety standards for RE areas such as solar home systems (SHS), wind, biofuel and grid-connected RE.
Draft the RE regulations
Train the Advisory Committee, the ED, local RE industry and communities on applying the regulations and standards
Draft the EE policy & hold consultation meetings before submission to Cabinet

Expected Impact

Improved capacity of the ED to regulate the RE sector with RE Authority, Advisory Committee
A coherent approach to the promotion of RE in Tonga with standards and regulations derived from the RE Act
An estimated additional US$13 million in RE investments in Tonga by the end of 2015.
An additional 2 MW of installed RE capacity expected by the end of 2015.
Improved capacity of the ED to manage the EE sector through coherent policy, setting the foundation for the later drafting of an EE Bill
An additional US$7 million investment in EE, yielding a 5-7 GWh saving by the end of 2015.

Location

Tonga

Programme sector

Policy and regulation

Duration

2011 - 2012

Budget

€ 118,081 including co-funding from Government of Tonga

Implementing agency

Tonga Energy Road Map Implementation Unit

REEEP grant funded by

Australia