On 26 July, King Tupou VI of Tonga led the ceremony to mark the commissioning of a new minigrid system and distribution network that is among the minigrid systems financed by the Outer Island Renewable Energy Project. The project is funding the installation of solar-powered systems in ‘Eua, Vava’u and Lifuka, and 4 outer islands in the Ha’Apai island group as well as in Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou islands. Total capacity of these systems would reach 1.32 megawatt-peak and is projected to bring down diesel imports by about 480,000 liters annually. The project also supports rehabilitating the electricity distribution grids in ‘Eua and Vava’u. The project that is on track to be completed in December 2023 is co-financed by the Government of Tonga, the Government of Australia, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, and the Second Danish Cooperation Fund for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for Rural Areas. Tonga Opens Renewable Grid to Deliver Clean, Affordable Energy to Niuatoputapu