How much does electricity cost in Tonga?

According to UK-based aggregate website Cable, Tonga's electricity is the 13th most expensive in the world, at an average cost of US35 cents (52 cents) per kilowatt hour (kWh). The research, released in late 2021, analysed 230 countries and found Oceania was the most expensive region in the world, with an average of US30 cents per kWh.

Are power prices too high in Tonga?

Power prices are affecting communities around the world and in the small island nation of Tonga — home to just over 100,000 people — they are feeling the pinch. "I think it's way too high. Very high in comparison with current salary ranges here in Tonga at the moment," Tonga resident Mapa Taumalolo said.

How is energy collected in Tonga?

"There's a host of different ways to collect the energy, but the one in Tonga will be a point source absorber and it will sit in the water and move up and down as the wave passes over the top," he said. "Inside it is a generator that will spin and create electricity."

What are base year costs for utility-scale battery energy storage systems?

Base year costs for utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESSs) are based on a bottom-up cost model using the data and methodology for utility-scale BESS in (Ramasamy et al., 2023). The bottom-up BESS model accounts for major components, including the LIB pack, the inverter, and the balance of system (BOS) needed for the installation.

Why are fewer Tongans using electricity?

Mapa Taumalolo says fewer Tongans are using electricity due to cost of living pressures. (Supplied: Linkedin) While some families are turning to solar, Mr Taumalolo said it didn't necessarily mean cheaper prices. "We do not have the right configuration and the right set up for the exact renewable energy system," he said.

Do battery costs scale with energy capacity?

However, not all components of the battery system cost scale directly with the energy capacity (i.e., kWh) of the system (Feldman et al. 2021). For example, the inverter costs scale according to the power capacity (i.e., kW) of the system, and some cost components such as the developer costs can scale with both power and energy.