Tonga could be set to embrace renewable energy after the success of their first, Scots-built wind turbine.
Lord Tu’ivakano, the prime minister of Tonga, commissioned the Pacific island’s first turbine at Nakolo Village from Glasgow firm Gaia-Wind which went live last month.
Now the country is in talks with the Scots company about installing a further four turbines to provide power for the islands.
“Following on our success in breaking into the European and US markets, we are thrilled that our UK manufactured turbines have now reached out halfway across the globe,” said Gaia-Wind chief executive Johnnie Andringa.
“Gaia-Wind turbines are designed to serve members of the community directly and to be in scale with their environment. Tonga is a prime example of the kind of market for distributed energy for which the Gaia-Wind turbine is eminently suited.”
Power on Tonga traditionally comes from imported diesel, with the new turbine – which sits at palm tree height – generatng 27,000kW hours of electricity.
Project manager Setitaia Chen said the venture had brought new skills to the island alongside producing a renewable energy source.
“Today marks a milestone for Tonga Power in the development of wind generation in the Kingdom,” he said.
“The only way to go now is forward with the wind.”
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