Electricity in Tonga in 2023
In 2023, Tonga's electricity consumption heavily relied on fossil fuels, with more than 85% of its electricity generated from these sources. Clean energy sources, specifically solar energy, contributed approximately 14% to the electricity mix. This demonstrates a modest but noteworthy step towards a cleaner energy future. However, with such a significant portion of the electricity derived from fossil fuels, there is a clear need for Tonga to enhance its efforts in expanding low-carbon energy sources. The current reliance on fossil fuels is not only environmentally detrimental but also poses long-term sustainability challenges.
Is Electricity Growing in Tonga?
Despite an increase in low-carbon electricity generation to 96 kWh/person in 2023, overall electricity consumption in Tonga has declined compared to the previous year. The total electricity consumption per person decreased from 762 kWh in 2022 to 669 kWh in 2023, marking a significant drop. This decline in overall electricity consumption suggests possible energy efficiency challenges or economic factors affecting energy use in Tonga. While the slight increase in low-carbon electricity generation is a positive development, the stagnation of clean energy growth in the face of an overall consumption decline is concerning for anyone rooting for a sustainable energy future.
Suggestions
To further increase its low-carbon electricity generation, Tonga could expand its solar energy capacity, building on its already noteworthy solar infrastructure. By observing regions like Lebanon and Nevada, where solar energy is successfully utilized to produce 31% and 27% of electricity, respectively, Tonga can gain valuable insights into scaling its solar projects. Moreover, looking at states like Iowa, which generate more than 60% of their electricity from wind, Tonga could explore incorporating wind energy to diversify its clean energy portfolio. Introducing nuclear energy could also be a strategic consideration for Tonga, drawing inspiration from countries like France where nuclear power contributes a substantial 68% of the electricity mix, advocating for a balanced and sustainable energy future.
History
Throughout the past few years, Tonga's history with low-carbon electricity has not seen any major developments, specifically in solar energy, which has remained stagnant from 2017 through 2023 with no recorded increase in generation. The absence of growth in solar energy generation indicates a critical period of missed opportunities that could have otherwise contributed significantly to a cleaner energy grid. This period of inertia underscores the pressing need for strategic initiatives and comprehensive policy frameworks to promote and expand low-carbon energy sources, especially in solar, to ensure sustainable energy security and environmental benefits for Tonga in the coming years.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.