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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Poho ee, Poho ee, Hange 'oku nofo 'etau tangata Fa'u Tohi 'iha Tu'unga Loo, Pea 'oku 'ikai malava ke mohe he mafasia hono 'atamai he ususu 'oku tau felongo'aki ai.
Tangata 'Ikani Selupe, ko 'etau a'u ia kihe Tu'unga, pea pehee mai 'ae Matu'a.....Koe ha hono 'aonga 'ae 'o 'ako ?? pea hoko 'atu hono Tafulu'i kitautolu........pea to mai 'ae Lea ko'eni !!!!!!
Kikila ho mata kihe feulufilufi 'ae nofo, kake fai 'ae lea koia, sio kihe ng veitapui? 'enau hu mai mo hu atu hotau Loki/Paenga ni............Mahino mai ho'o kei "KOU" Pea ngata he 'aho ni, 'oua na'a toe fai 'ae fkmatala fkpoto koia.mo ho'o fkngalivale'i 'ae Famili moe Kainga.....'Ofa atu Ikani. -
'Ai aa foki Mokofisi mo ke fakapikopiko he fakatonutonu, tuku atu ha fo'i me'a ke 'alu kuo ke hange ha fu'u 'angelo fakatonutonu, ko e faifai pea ke vaivai vave 'o mate vave kae 'ikai toe 'iai ha taha 'e tohi faka'ofo'ofa he fale ni hhhhh
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‘IKANI SELUPE…MAHALO ‘OKU SI’I HO’O ‘ILÓ, PE ‘OKU KE KEI SI’I.
Kātaki ‘oua e faka’aonga’i ‘a e fo’i lea ko e “kou” ‘o kapau ‘oku ke lea faka’apa’apa. ‘I he lea faka-Tongá, ko e fo’i lea kapekape ia. ‘Oku tohi ‘i he Tonga Dictionary: English-Tonga; Tonga-English, fa’u ‘a Dr. Churchward, tokoni ki ai ‘a Feleti Vi (1959; reprinted 2015, Government of Tonga).
Tapu mo e ha’ofangá ni ka teu lau tonu’i atu ‘a e ‘uhinga totonu ‘o e fo’i lea ko e “kou” kuo lahi hono faka-‘aonga’i ‘e he kau taki lotu, mo e Pule’angá; ka ko e fo’i lea kapekape: “kou, a.v.i., uncircumcised (ta’e tefe). More polite than ta’e kamu, and ta’e kaukau. Cp. kotá”.
Me’a pangó, ‘oku si’aki ke kau ia ‘i he tikisinali Ko e Tala’uhinga ‘o e Lea Faka-Tonga (2010). Ka ‘oku nau fakakau ‘a e ngaahi lea Tonga motu’a ia ’o hangē ko e fo’i lea ko e “‘ohoana”: Mali pe ko e hoa (husband, wife). Kuo fetongi ‘a e fo’i leá ni ‘aki ‘a e “mali” mei he Ingilisi ko e “marry”. Ka ‘i he tikisinali ‘a Toki Ukamea (Tonga Islands, by William Mariner, 1819), ko e fo’i lea Tonga ‘i he taimi ko iá ko e “‘ohana”, ‘a ia ‘oku kei faka-‘aonga’i ‘i he lea faka-Haua’í ‘a hono ui honau fāmilí ko e “‘ohana”. -
‘OUA E FIU…Ko ‘etau felāfoaki ‘i he Nepitunó ‘oku faka-palataha ko e ‘uhí ‘oku ‘ikai kemau ‘ilo kohai koe. Kuo mau kina ho’o tafulu’i mo kape’i (personal attack) kimautolu ‘i he ha’ofangá ni. ‘Oku ke tu’uaki mai ‘a e tasiosilo mo e ‘asi-ma’a mai ki tu’á (transparency) ‘o e temokalatí. Hili ko iá, ‘oku ke tau toitoi mai koe ‘i he hingoa fakapulipuli.
1) ‘Oku ke mā, pea ‘oku ‘ikai teke pōlepole’aki ho hingoa na’e ‘oatu ‘e ho’o ongo-mātu’á?
2) ‘Oku ke ‘ufi’ufi’i koe ke ‘oua na’a ‘iloa ho matâ na’a ‘oku ke faka’aonga’i ‘a e ngaahi hingoa fakapulipuli kehekehe?
3) ‘Oku mau faka’aonga’i homau hingoa totonú, pea ‘oku mau fua fatongia (responsibility) ki he ngaahi me’a ‘oku mau tohi ‘i he Nepitunó.
4) Mahino mai ‘oku ke fai tavale pe, ‘o ’ikai teke fie fua e fatongia ‘o e ngaahi me’a ‘oku ke tohi ‘i he Nepitunó.
5) ‘Oku ke kape’i kimautolu mo lea mai ‘aki ‘a e ta’e toka’i (arrogance), mo e sio lalo (conceit).
6) Lolotonga iá, ‘oku mau faka-‘ata atu kitu’a homau hingoa, mo homau puipuitu’a.
7) ‘Oku lahi ho’o tohi e ngaahi lea fefeka mo kape’i e tokolahi ‘i he Nepitunó.
8) Koe’uhi ke ‘oua e puli mei he tokotaha kotoa, ko e tokotaha kākā koe.
9) ‘Oku ‘ikai ketau felāfoaki ‘i hono folahi hotau fala (fairness) ke fai ai ‘a e põtalanoá.
10) Ko ‘etau lea Tonga motu’a ko e “vaipalo” pe ko e “coward”.
11) Ko koe ia: Vaipalo. -
‘IKANI SELUPE MO ‘OUA E FIU…Mo kātaki ‘o fokotu’u mai ho’o mo taumu’á ke mahino. Tuku e lea-manuki mo e lea noa’ia ‘aki e ta’e ‘uhingá. Fokotu’u mai ho’o mo fakakaukaú faka-potó ketau fokifokihi, kae ‘oua e tala ‘oku mo fai mai e fakatonutonu…ko e fakatonutonú ko e me’a ia ‘oku fai ‘e he tokotaha ako pea ‘oku taukei ‘i he mala’e ‘oku lea ai.
‘Oku mahino kia Pita ‘ema felāfoaki he ‘oku ma talanoa ‘i he tu’unga ‘oku ne mahino’i, he ko e tokotaha ako mo ia. Pea ‘oku ‘ikai ke toe fakapulipuli’i ha me’a ‘i he ‘ema felāfoakí. Ko e founga faka-saienisi ia ‘o e fakatotolo mo e fekumi faka-‘atamai. Tukukehe ho’o mo sio lalo mai ‘a moua, he ‘oku ‘ikai ke mo mahino’i.
Ko ena ‘oku mo lau ‘eku fa’utohi, ka ‘oku mo lotokovi, mo e meheka, ko e si’isi’i ho’o mo ‘ilò. Pea ‘e ‘ikai teu tukulolo atu au ki ho’o mo manukí, pe teu kole fakamolemole atu. Feinga’i ho’o mo fakamatala fa’utohí ke fefekaange, he “’Oku Sai Ketau ‘Ilo Ki ai.” Pea fa’u mai ha’a mo “essay” ketau sio ki ha’a mo ki’i fakatotolo loloto ki ho’o mo ‘iló ketau ako mei ai.
’Oua-e-Fiu…’oku ta’e ‘uhinga ho’o fu’u fakamatala loloa tokua ko e “kili’i me’a maumau taimi” ‘eku tāvahe mo Pita. Koehā ho’o taukei ‘i he fakatotolo ki he “Renewable Energy”? Ko e lau talatō ena ia ‘a e ta’e ako ‘oku ke fai, ke kape’i (personal attack) mai ‘a ‘eku fakatonutonu fakaako ‘a Pitá. Tufi koe ‘Oua-e-fiu he ko e mala’e ‘o e Nepitunó ‘oku ‘i heni ‘a e tu’unga ako kotoa. Tu’uaki mai ‘e koe ‘a e faka’aonga’i ‘o e lea faka-fonua kehekehe kau ai ’a Siaina, pea ‘oku ‘ikai fiema’u ke totonu e kalama, etc.
‘A ia ko e ngata’anga pē ia ho ‘atamai ko e kape’i holo e kakaí e? Pea kātaki ko hoku hingoá ko Sione A. Mokofisi. ‘Oku ‘ikai ko e Sione T. Mokofisi.
Koehā ‘oku ‘ikai faka’aonga’i ai ‘e ‘Amelika ‘a e lea ‘a e kau ‘Initia Kulá, mo Nu’u Sila ‘a e lea ‘a e kau Maulí? Me’a ta’e ‘uhinga mo’oni ko ho’o fakamatalá e? Toe ki’i feinga ke ofiofi mai ho’o faka’uhingá. Mahalo na’a ‘oku sai ke fai atu ho’o kape’i holo e kakaí ki he nusipepa Kele’a ‘oku fonu ai ‘a e kau ta’e akó e? -
Oua e Fiu kou faa saiia mau pe au hono lau hoo ngaahi comment ko hoo loto tauataina. Ko hoo kii foi hu au eni ke tausino tama keke fakatonutonui a Mokofisi. Kaikehe he ta koani oku tau tatau pe he felave'aki moe afungi e.
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Koe Poto moe 'ilo, koe me'a 'ofa fungani ia kihe ha'a Tangata talu mei he Kamata'anga 'oe Unive'esi ko'eni. Koe fu'u kili'i me'a maumau taimi mo molenga Ivi ke nofo 'o fktonutonu ha ngaue lelei mo 'aonga kuo fkhoko kihe Fekumi 'iha f'a'ahinga mala'e pe ke 'aonga kiha Kakai 'oku nau masivesiva 'Ilo pea tokoni kihe fklakalaka 'enau mo'ui lotolu he taimi kotoa pe.....
Koe ng Fonua Hau 'eni 'o Mamani, Na'e fai pe 'enau ako he'enau Lea fkfonua 'o 'au mai kihe Senitule 21 ni.
Koe fklakalaka Lahi 'oe Sivilaise, na'e fai pe he'enau lea, Koe poto moe Taukei Ngaue koe me'a ia 'oku feinga ke langa fklakalaka 'aki 'ae ng Fonua he aho ni,
Lea English Lelei moe tonu 'ae Kalama koe me'a 'ia kimui he'enau ngaue moe Langa fklakalaka 'oku fai.
Koe Fonua fk'aluma 'a Tonga ni 'o tautau tefito kihe Lea fkpalangi, kae 'ikai fktokanga'i 'ae ngaue lava me'a ha taha kuo lava.
Koe pepa lalahi 'eni he ng Fktaha fk mamani Lahi 'oku present pe he'enau Lea fkfonua, koe me'a mahu'inga 'ae Taukei Ngaue moe 'Ilo 'oku fk'inasi 'aki 'ae ng Fktaha. mahu'inga koia.
'Oku ou Salute kiate koe Pita, 'ihe Feinga fkutumauku 'oku ke ngaue mo Fekumi kiai, he koe founga pe ia 'e Langa 'aki 'ae ng ngaue'anga moe ma'u ngaue hotau ki'i Fonua kapau 'e toko Lahi ha tau kakai 'o hange ko koe.
Vakai kihe kau ako ki China , 'oku nau ako 'ae lea China, pehe ki Japan mo Falanise etc.......
Ko Amelika Lahi, ka ma'u pe 'ae 'uhinga moe mo'oni, ka'oku 'ikai ke tonu 'ae Grammmar kuo foaki he'e fai sivi ia 'ae Kolosi pe poini, pea 'ikai koha fu'u me'a ia kete afu ngalu kiai 'o hange koe me'a 'oku fkmamafa mo Mo'ua kiai Sione T Mokofisi.
"Ke a Tonga mai eee" pea tuku foki 'ae Afungi, Ka tau tu'u 'o Ngaue'i hotau Fonua. -
Sione 'ofa atu ki he ngaue oku fai moe ngaahi articles kuo 'ohake. Faka'ofo'ofa e folotu'utu'u fakakaukau, koe ifo e talanga ke challenge e ngaahi fakakaukau kotoa pe 'oku 'ohake he tau ki'i fonua masiva. Kataki kapau ngali to kitu'a e ngaahi lea, koe 'atunga pe ia fanau li'aki. 'Ofa atu
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'Ai lelei pe Mokofisi mo Pita na'a lavea ha taha pea 'oku mahino lelei pe ia kiate kimautolu ho'o mo poini pea koe ifo atu.
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HA HA HA YOURSELF, PITA...Congratulations on your educational achievements. Now, write and talk like an educated person. If you talk and write like an illiterate, you'll be treated like one.