Big Batteries for the South Pacific

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Akuo Energy, a French renewable power producer and developer, is providing large energy storage systems to the South Pacific. It has commissioned a 29.2 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Tonga, several weeks after powering up a 19 MWh project in Martinique. The Tonga 1 and Tonga 2 projects total 16.5 MW of power capacity and 29.2 MWh of energy storage capacity, making this the largest BESS in the South Pacific.

Tonga 1 is a 9.3 MW/5.3 MWh system designed to improve grid stability, with a duration of just 34 minutes. Tonga 2 is a 3.3-hour system with 7.2 MW/23.9 MWh of power, designed primarily for load shifting. They have already allowed Tonga to double its renewable energy capacity with the recent addition of 6 MW in solar PV power, bringing the country’s renewable mix to around 20%. It is aiming for 70% by 2030.

The BESS also demonstrated its resilience during a tsunami in January, which devastated the coastline and cut the country off from the outside world. The BESS continued operating and helped stabilise the grid in the days following the natural disaster.

The two projects totalled USD$53 million in investment, of which 56% was from the UN’s Green Climate Fund, 23% from the Asian Development Bank, 10% from the Tongan government, 6% from Tonga Power, and 5% from the Australian government.

Eric Scott, chairman and co-founder of Akuo, said: “We are very proud to put this storage facility into service, proof if it were necessary of the key role this technology plays in power networks’ performance and of its complementarity with the production of renewable energy.”

Akuo was founded in 2007 by the founders of Perfect Wind after they sold their entire wind portfolio to Spanish multinational electric utility Iberdrola. The company won solar tenders on French overseas territories last year and has invested €2.8 billion (USD$3 billion) for a total capacity of 1.4 GW renewable energy capacity (operational or in development).

Australia is currently reaping the results of neglecting its South Pacific neighbours. Foreign aid has been reduced and Australia’s previous conservative government has shown a callous regard for rising sea levels. Peter Dutton, who is now the leader of the Liberal Party in opposition, quipped in 2015 “time doesn’t mean anything when you’re about to have water lapping at your door.” As a result, many island leaders are welcoming the renewed interest of the Chinese government.

Let’s hope that Australia can follow the French lead and help our Pacific neighbours to a climate-friendly energy solution by installing big battery storage facilities for the South Pacific. Hopefully, we can do better than 5% next time.