Renewable Energy Act 2008 (Tonga)

The Act regulates the use of renewable energy in the Kingdom of Tonga. Its principal objects are: 

1. To promote the development of the renewable energy industry.
2. To establish an authority to deal with matters relating to renewable energy.
3. To empower such authority to regulate all matters relating to renewable energy.
4. To promote the implementation of commercially sustainable renewable energy based electrification services.
5. To promote access by people resident in the remote areas of the Kingdom to renewable energy services.

The renewable energy sources contemplated in the Act include biofuel, biogas, biomass, fuel cells, geothermal, hydrogen, hydropower, ocean thermal energy conversion, plant, animal or marine resources, solar, tidal, wave, wind, and any other source specified by regulations made under the Act. The Act also provides for Renewable Energy Agreements whereby a person may be authorized by the Authority to produce, store, or distribute any energy derived from a renewable energy source. The Authority may enter into a concession agreement permitting any person to produce, store or distribute any energy derived from any renewable energy source, which may include the rights to do the same for the whole Kingdom, or any district, town or island.