Electricity in Tonga in 2022

In 2022, Tonga's electricity consumption was heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with nearly 90% of its electricity coming from these sources. Only a small portion of its electricity, about one-eighth, was generated from low-carbon sources, all of which came from solar energy. This heavy dependence on fossil fuels is concerning, given the impacts on climate change and air pollution. Efforts in Tonga to adopt clean energy have only just begun, but the exclusive reliance on solar for clean electricity highlights the potential for greater expansion in low-carbon electricity generation.

Suggestions

To enhance its low-carbon electricity generation, Tonga can focus on expanding its existing solar infrastructure, given its current role as the sole contributor to the clean energy mix. Besides expanding solar, Tonga can look into the successful examples of other countries that have significantly increased their proportion of clean electricity. While larger nations like France, Slovakia, and Ukraine have primarily relied on nuclear energy for their low-carbon electricity, smaller island nations like Cape Verde and Kenya have successfully harnessed wind energy, delivering meaningful percentages of their electricity from this clean source. Hopefully, with strategic investments and planning, Tonga can learn from these models to diversify its clean energy sources and reduce its heavy dependence on fossil-powered electricity.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Tonga during the years 2017 to 2022 shows stagnation, with no significant changes recorded in solar electric production during this period. This static situation highlights an important area for growth as both public and private sectors consider ways to decrease reliance on fossil fuels and increase the share of sustainable, low-carbon sources like solar and potentially wind energy. Encouragingly, advancements and the momentum for clean energy globally suggest that Tonga is well-positioned to capitalize on technology and knowledge transfer to improve its electricity mix and consequently its environmental footprint.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources