Editing Tonga (section)

=== Energy ===
Energy in Tonga mostly comes from imported diesel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.greenclimate.fund/projects/fp090|title=FP090 Tonga Renewable Energy Project under the Pacific Islands Renewable Energy Investment Program|date=20 October 2018|website=Green Climate Fund|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830010334/https://www.greenclimate.fund/projects/fp090|archive-date=30 August 2019|url-status=live|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> Energy consumption in Tonga is projected to reach around 66 gigawatt hours by 2020.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://pcreee.org/article/tonga-track-reach-renewable-energy-target|title=Tonga on track to reach renewable energy target|date=February 15, 2019|website=PCREEE|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830010341/https://pcreee.org/article/tonga-track-reach-renewable-energy-target|archive-date=30 August 2019|url-status=live|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> The country aimed to reach 50% of renewable energy by 2020.<ref name=":0" /> In 2019, Tonga announced the construction of a 6-megawatt solar farm on Tongatapu.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.adb.org/news/south-pacifics-biggest-solar-plant-help-tonga-meet-renewable-energy-target|title=South Pacific's Biggest Solar Plant to Help Tonga Meet Renewable Energy Target|date=2019-03-21|website=Asian Development Bank|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830010343/https://www.adb.org/news/south-pacifics-biggest-solar-plant-help-tonga-meet-renewable-energy-target|archive-date=30 August 2019|url-status=live|access-date=2019-08-30}}</ref> The plant will be the second-largest solar plant in the Pacific upon completion.<ref name=":1" />

In view of the decreasing reliability of [[fossil-fuel electricity]] generation, its increasing costs, and negative environmental side effects, [[renewable energy]] solutions have attracted the government's attention. Together with [[IRENA]], Tonga has planned a renewable energy based strategy to power the main and outer islands. The strategy focuses on solar home systems that turn individual households into small power plants. It calls for the involvement of local operators, finance institutions, and technicians to provide sustainable business models and strategies to ensure the effective operation, management, and maintenance once the systems are installed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.irena.org |title=International Renewable Energy Agency |publisher=IRENA |date=26 January 2009 |access-date=27 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621042458/http://irena.org/ |archive-date=21 June 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency was established in Tonga in 2016 to advise the private sector on related policy matters, provide capacity development and promote business investment.<ref name="Scott-Kemmis et al. 2021">{{cite book |author1=Scott-Kemmis |author2=Intarakumnerd |author3=Rasiah |author4=Amaradasa |editor1-last=Schneegans |editor1-first=S. |editor2-last=Straza |editor2-first=T. |editor3-last=Lewis |editor3-first=J. |title=Southeast Asia and Oceania. In UNESCO Science Report: the Race Against Time for Smarter Development. |year=2021 |publisher=UNESCO |location=Paris |isbn=978-92-3-100450-6 |pages=674–715 |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000377433 |access-date=8 September 2021 |archive-date=16 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916163313/https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000377433 |url-status=live }}</ref> The centre facilitates a financial mechanism offering competitive grants for start-ups to spur the adoption of renewable energy by the business sector. The centre is part of the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres and SIDS DOCK framework designed to attract international investment in the renewable energy sector.

With the assistance of IRENA, Tonga has developed the 2010–2020 Tonga Energy Road Map, which aims for a 50% reduction of diesel importation. This was to be accomplished through a range of appropriate renewable technologies, including wind and solar, as well as innovative efficiencies.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tonga-energy.to/?p=1197 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514035721/http://www.tonga-energy.to/?p=1197 |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 May 2011 |title=Tonga Energy Press Release: IRENA signing, a milestone for Tonga's renewable energy plans |publisher=Tonga-energy.to |date=24 June 2010 |access-date=1 June 2012 }}</ref> As of 2018, Tonga was generating 10% of its electricity from renewable sources.<ref name="SPREP SOEC 2021">{{cite book |title=State of Environment and Conservation in the Pacific Islands: 2020 Regional Report. |date=29 April 2021 |publisher=Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme |location=Apia |isbn=978-982-04-0906-4 |url=https://soec.sprep.org/ |access-date=8 September 2021 |archive-date=11 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611220121/https://soec.sprep.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>