Tongan renewable energy is all around us − the ocean, stupid! Featured
Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni
TONGAN RENEWABLE ENERGY IS ALL AROUND US − THE OCEAN, STUPID!
Totofa 'o Nuku'alofa...Volume 3. No. 11...June 13, 2015.
Written by Sione A. Mokofisi
Auckland, New Zealand – Tongan Deputy Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni was one ecstatic diplomat who must have had an almost orgasmic experience at the Pacific Energy Conference in Auckland last week, June 07, 2016.
Money-bearing donors came to the rescue making pledges of more than $1 billion (That’s correct, with a capital “B”; $1,000,000,000 or $109 to the ninth power) to fund sustainable energy projects in nine Pacific Small Island States (SIDs). OMG! We “Tangata Pasifika” (incorrectly translated by many foreigners as “kanakas”) are now swimming in money rather than in the ocean. Renewable energy is certainly Green in color. Yes, very much green indeed.
Just in time, as we are about to sink to the bottom of the ocean because of Global Warming, or by its more politically-correct name Climate Change, they came to save.
And Mr. Sovaleni and his SID colleagues can smell the color of Green; they must have lit some up to get high on while celebrating their good fortunes. They are experts in holding out their hands for donations from bigger evil nations who are polluting the earth’s environment. Meanwhile, the answer to bolster their wind and solar power sources could be found at the nearest beachhead on any island.
ANSWER LIES IN THE EVER RENEWABLE OCEAN
Salivating for such evil amount of money – even divided by 9 is still $111 million for each island nation − can cloud one’s mind, but the money will run out at some point soon. Especially for Tonga, imported diesel fuel is difficult to replace, and the intermittency of wind and solar energy has no reliable life booster identified until now.
Unless, of course, the money is used wisely, and not wasted on trial-and-error experiments, and sexy projects that fail to deliver electricity when customers want it (high demand). When the wind doesn’t blow, and the sun is not shining, current technology has not developed a chemical battery that could save wind and solar energy power to produce return-on-investment equity of more than 5% saving.
But an old technology from the 1890s known as “pump storage hydropower” could be the natural fit for Tonga and her SID neighbors. Since the ocean can be an in-exhaustible clean source of energy, why not pump it to a large reservoir inland at a higher elevation? Then release it like from a man-made water dam to spin hydroelectric turbines generating electricity when needed.
"Among all energy storage technologies," Vladimir Koritarov an energy systems engineer notes, "pumped storage hydropower is still the only one that is mature, reliable, proven, and commercially available to provide large utility-scale energy storage." He said in an interview at the Department of Energy National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois, USA.
CLEAN, RENEWABLE ENERGY VS. DIRTY DIESEL FUEL
The hunt for a clean renewable energy source to replace diesel fuel is now feasible for SIDs like Tonga. Larger countries pump water from natural rivers and lakes to power their pumped storage hydroelectric systems, but Pacific Islands are floating in the ocean. They will need to do research on how to deal with the corrosive nature of sea water, but what a small price to pay for a renewable clean energy source. Sea water is pumped to reservoirs inland, and then release to the ocean to generate electricity.
"We are seeing that there are other, more interesting ways of storing electricity coming up on the horizon, in particular battery storage through distributed systems," said Peter Bosshard the interim executive director for International Rivers, an environmental advocacy based in Berkeley, California.
Building reservoirs and large holding tanks can be more expensive than chemical batteries. But even Microsoft founder Bill Gates had confessed to have invested billions of dollars in new battery makers to store wind and solar power but to no avail. Mr. Gates has extended his investments on these battery makers for over 20 years without getting more than 5% saving of battery storage.
Pump storage hydropower technology came from the European Alps (Switzerland, Austria, and Italy) in the 1890s. It was used for greater flexibility in water management of water resources. In the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s it was adopted in electricity generation, ballooning to full use in Spain, Germany, and Naples and Sicily in Italy.
CHINA, USA, JAPAN LARGEST “PSH” BUILDERS
China, however, is the world’s largest utilizer of the pump storage hydroelectric technology today. Growing fastest than in any country in the world, according to Chi-Jen Yang, a researcher scientist at the Cernter of Global Change at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
"A new pump hydro station comes online every several months," he says, adding that "there are 10 or 15 under construction right now, and each one is really huge, like one (1) gigawatt or bigger."
China's 22 gigawatts of installed pumped storage hydro capacity has gone ahead of the United States' 21 gigawatts. China will overtake Japan's 27 gigawatts in 2018 as world leader, according to Yang. The 3.6-gigawatt Fengning Pumped Storage Power Station under construction in Hebei Province will be the world's largest when it comes online around 2022.
TONGAN CHALLENGES NEED VISIONARY LEADERS
Mr. Sovaleni boasts that Tonga is now generating 10% renewable energy sources, slated to reach 50% in 2020, and 100% in 2035. But his claim is doubtful since Tonga has no other energy sources to supplement wind and solar power. What Tonga has plenty of is the ocean, which is rising in volume rather that depleting.
Other countries are able to bolster their 100% renewable clean energy only with strong revenues earned from oil or other natural resources such as hydropower. Tonga has a few lakes, but no rivers, and no other natural resources. Harnessing the power of the ocean is the next logical choice to bolster wind and solar power.
“It's harder to actually provide electricity to the outer islands. We've got more than 50 islands that we need to cover," the Deputy Prime Minister said in Auckland. I hope he doesn't think that all of these 50 islands’ energy problems can be solved with a “cookie-cutter” approach.
Perhaps the larger islands needed to be harnessed first, then solutions for the smaller islands can follow suit. Some islands in Tonga have natural lakes, but most are floating in the ocean.
(Sione A. Mokofisi lives in Tonga, and he is an international syndicated columnist. He is Director of English, Journalism & Business Management at Moana Uni-Tech, Haveluloto, Tongatapu. He earns a MBA from the University of Phoenix-Arizona; BS from Brigham Young University-Hawaii; AA from Mesa College, Arizona. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
24 comments
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hahaha Malie Sione.
Come on Sione not everything in life are bogged down to grammar and spelling checks. I dont have a Master like yourself but ko 'eku ki'i diploma vaivai pe he Engineer mei Fokololo with 15 years of experience i he area of renewable energy i Australia, Scotland and Germany he kautama lalahi oku nau specialise he Renewable Energy. I didnt have a well qualified education for my english, nau totongi pe eku ako i Fokololo peau ma'u faingamalie keu too kii course engineer i Auckland pea ave au he motua ki Australia o fakangaue ai 'i he 1999, peau toki alu holo ai pe i heku feinga. Ngali uneducate eku faitohi koe lahi e error, kou kole fakamolemole atu he 'ikai keu meet your MA from Arizona. Not everyone have the luxury of getting a decent education, but this is not an excuse to fakalelei'i
Yes you note that my writing doesn't meet your english standard but i didnt say im an academic researcher. I said i worked with Japanese expert on a paper on this. Ke osi ilo pe academic paper are not full of paragraphs and text but data and analysis, specification and designs (yes that what i do). Im the technical side of the research and I leave the writing kia nautolu sai enau writing. I dont go on and judge oku hala e grammar and spelling, i know for sure that im not qualified, i stick to my area of expertise.
Who said RE is free? My point is and the recommendations we gave the Government and communities, is better to invest in other alternatives than this technology because a 1MW for $100mil vs 1MW solar cost $3mil is not cost effective. You can get more energy generation 10x with 100mil. You can do network upgrade, invest is solar water pump etc. You need to consider maintenance cost, spare parts, operational cost, investment opportunities, capacity etc must be taken into account and this something that we recommend and that Tonga should look at Wind, Solar and Wave.
It doest mean that its not windy that you cant do a wind farm. Different elevation and height have different wind speed vs ground level. Wind turbine are erected at 50m up to 100m (or even higher), wind mask tested wind speed at these levels not ground level. Hence, You cant just justify something based on observation, you need to do testing, sampling etc to be sure.
100% wind availability is not what i claimed, what i claimed (and this is based on the report) is that couple of sites in Tonga has 6-7m/s potential but when you say "potential" in technical term, that mean you considered the non-windy season, cyclone seasons, environment and surrounding, market capacity, etc into your "potential equation", this is what the report provides and these what feasibility studies does. Solar and Wave can kick in when wind is not etc, battery storage can kick in at night etc.
Oku hange eni ia kuo ta foki taua ia ki heku writing styles and error kae tuku e poini o e arguement. You wrote an article that put down what the DPM (and those working at the ministry) are trying to do without seeking information from them. Not all people in the Government are corrupted and uneducated. Not all people have the money to have a decent education. Not all people get to get things in life they want. So that is not an excuse for you to call people "uneducated" or "corrupted".
When i criticise your article kuo ke sii 'ita. I dont really care about calling me uneducated because i am in comparison to you BUT im trying to justify the technical part as an enginner. Unfortunately, im not doing a good job because kuoke sii attack eku writing style. What i can say is I dont go on and criticise people, i stand for my own value and judgement and ive seen corruption in government and everywhere but i dont judge the whole government as corruption and uneducated based on one observation.
Kae kehe tuku keu 'alu to'o haku ki'i kalasi english he kuo ngali broken 'eku lea atu mo'eku fakamatala ki he paipa he feitu'una hahahaha -
ABSOLUTELY NOT, PITA...YOU CANNOT GUESS YOUR WAY INTO AN ACADEMIC DISCOURSE, EVEN IN THIS FORUM WHERE INTELLECTUAL WRITERS PUBLISH THEIR WORKS…YOU'VE GOT TO GET THE CORRECT TERMS IF YOU'RE AN EXPERT...OR CALLING YOURSELF AN ACADEMIC RESEARCHER...
1. Even in this forum, you must show respect in an intellectual discussion by writing intellectually, if you’re challenging other intellectual writers (My original essay was an intellectual paper written for the popular media). Not paying attention to small details disqualifies your argument on an educated level. If you fail in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and quoting sources correctly with me, or any other educated writer, then your arguments are not deserving to be addressed intellectually.
2. You do show your level of writing in an academic paper when if it is free of errors; it shows your disrespect and carelessness, and you're trying to defraud this community with excuses we hear from Government corrupted officials, and uneducated folks.
3. Your academic "Problem Statement" and "End State" analyses should not preclude other possible (alternative) solutions, if you're an academic researcher.
4. Your conclusion against a "PUMP STORAGE HYDROPOWER" for Tonga because it is too expensive, shows how shortsighted your research paper's scope is. Clean and renewable energy sources are not free;
5. WIND POWER: And you don’t know that wind power has down-time problems? I'm utterly surprised that you're claiming 100% wind power availability in Tonga; and you call yourself an academic researcher, using scientific methods?
6. And you want evidence that the wind does not blow at times? Look around you if you’re not blind and deaf (excuse the pun, but you’re writing like an uneducated person). -
Kou fakamalo atu kia Pita mo Mokofisi hono ave talanoa kihe ngaahi mea fakatekinikale koeni he oku mau ako mei ai.
Neu lau i he Kelea e ngaahi fokotuutuu ngaue a Sovaleni. Koe fuu Potungaue oku iai oku mahu ka ko hono pango he oku ikai mahino koeha ha lelei e mau mei he ngaahi mea koeni oku ne fokotuutuu. Oku ne teke a e e-government oku ikai mahino koeha ha lelei mo hano kovi ki Tonga ni. Koeni malo etau lau e felafoaki koeni ketau ilo atu ha fakafuofua kihe ngaue a e solar koeni. Ko e ngaahi project koeni oku palanii e Sovaleni oku tau talanoa kitautolu ihe miliona pea koeha leva hono lelei kihe kakai pea fiha leva ia kihe kato o Sova moe kautama？ -
Term is interchangelable depend on were you are in the world. "Solar module" or "solar panel" same thing. PUMP STORANGE HYDROPOWER is the same as Pump hydro storage..different name same concept.
Im not basing my argument because i just read and comments. My point is ive written a paper on this based on a research that ive done with couples of Japanese experts i he University a Osaka on how feasible this is for Tonga. It was something that we wanted to run through JICA ke fund. We study Vavau,HP, Eua and Niuafoou. Unfortunately, it can work but it will require alot of energy to pump and store the water, ee spend more energy pumping and with gravity feed (based on height) is not worth the investmenr. The cost is around $100+ to construct and operate but only for 1MW. That amount can be used for solar, wind or battery stroage or wave.
The study we did was out of my pocket as we did this in 2010 and we did presentation to the government and some communities about our finding. We also.present on potential geothermal area in hihifo ke dril e energy but cost about $1.5mil for test and samoling dril.
Anyways, all i can say is that the technical req for this is complex for "small brain" (like mine) but sai koe ko hoo paipa u will understand it more.No one said i know better..im just stating case based on a three year study that i did and i think im qualify to say the least.
"Wind is not blowing" come on where is your data on that" IUCN, JICA and MFAr did a study on that already and found that Niuatoua, Eua and Vavau have 6-7m/s wind speed. That is why JICA is installing 1.3MW in Niuatoua. Im staying overseas but even me im keep up with what happenig there. If you want to know the energy sources for that 50%, contact atu kianautolu ke atu e report oku asi ai. Ive contacted them and they provide the list of project, cost, funds, plan to get that 50%.
What im saying you cant get answer by just assuming that things are not clear and not even going to them and ask to satisfy your burning question. But i guess that how you make a living. Good luck with that -
MĀLÕ PITA...FIRST, IF YOU'RE SUCH AN EXPERT, WHY CAN'T YOU GET THE "PUMP STORAGE HYDROPOWER" TERM CORRECTLY? IT'S NOT "PUMP HYDRO STORAGE".
Like I wrote, "Tongan challenges need visionary leaders." Obviously we have none in Tonga, because the first thing out of your mouth is, "...it will not work in Tonga."
1. I'm so tired of hearing that in Tonga as if everyone is an expert on: "It will not work in Tonga." Sign of small brains talking.
2. Well, I concluded that the only thing that will not work in Tonga is what works everywhere else.
3. Scolding me to cease criticism is a sign of a dictator from a bureaucratic central planner: "We know better, and we'll tell you what is good for you."
4. Well, Pita...if you know the "technical feasibility" reqs why don't you write an essay on the issue explaining why it will not work for Tonga, to rebut my essay, and educate the people?
5. Explain why it will not work for such a small population as Tonga, and PSH is only needed during peak hours to boost wind and solar power? Mr. Sovaleni brags of 50% renewable energy by 2020, but has not explained where will electricity will come from when the wind is not blowing, and the sun is not shining?
6. Explain why it will not work at least for Vava'u and 'Eua with higher elevations? -
Kuo hange a Pita ia ko ofisa paka o kaunoa he lea a e kakai. Somai ange Pita，lea'i atu moe Kele'a he oku nau maulalo ange kinautolu ia.
Kae hange koe lau Sai ketau ilo ioooo -
Pump hydro storage will not work in Tonga. It requires more energy to pump it to the resevior then to generate for a flat lands like Tonga. You have done your research Sione but leave not the technical feasibility. Tuku mua e ngaue ko ia ki he niihi oku a enau taukei he malae ko ia. Kou tui nau ngaue lahi ki ai ka oku ikai nau fakaanga mri he tapai laine. Lahi ange homou ea mole he laui e private business e Minister he topic oku he ohake
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Lolotonga pamu vai a ofisa paka ia mo loholoho mo oua e fiu i halaovave fakaosi ki Tukutonga hhhhhhh
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Mosese, koe ngaahi me'a mo'oni pe eni ia pea he'ikai fai ai ha mo'ua ia 'i pule'anga. Koe ngutulau pe e ia na'e fai 'ehe taki temo 'o toutou mo'ua ai e fakamaau'anga. Talaatu kia 'ofisa paka ke me'a atu ia kihe paaka 'i Tukutonga 'o fakamokomoko.
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MÕSESE...'OKU KOVI PE FAKAMAFOLA ONGOONGO 'O KAU KI HE KAU TAKI FAKA-PULE'ANGÁ 'O KAPAU KO E LOI.
1. 'Oku 'ataa (fair game) ke faka'aonga'i 'a e fakakata'i, faka-luma'i (satire, humor), 'a honau ongoongó 'i he pule'anga temokalatí.
2. 'Oku 'i ai 'a e totonu 'a e kakaí kenau 'ilo ki he anga 'o e kau takí 'i he sōsaietí, tautautefito ki he ngaahi me'a ke 'ilo pe 'oku nau faitotonu ki honau ngaahi fāmilí, siasi, mo 'enau ngāue, etc.
3. Ka 'oku totonu ketau tokanga ke 'oua na'a kape'i taaautaha (personal attacks) kinautolu.