Long-standing power problems in Tonga have been eased in part thanks to the work of Bacchus Marsh-raised Nicholas Guys and his older brother, Shane Kennedy.
The brothers, who live and work in Brisbane, recently completed a seven-month contract to build a 500-kilowatt hybrid solar farm on the island of Vava’u.
“The whole experience was awesome,” said Mr Kennedy, who undertook all the electrical and safety equipment installation.
“We had a ceremony when it was completed and met Tongan royalty and other officials. Seeing it come together felt great.”
The solar farm was opened by Crown Prince Tupouto’a ’Ulukalala last December.
It produces enough energy to cover about 13 per cent of Vava’u’s annual electricity needs and up to 70 per cent of demand during peak hours.
Their mother, Suzanne Guys, who lives in Bacchus Marsh, said she was proud of how much her sons had achieved in installing 1680 panels.
“My youngest, Nicholas, supervised the trench digging and looked after a team of local workers, who only worked by hand,” she said.
Mr Kennedy said the Tongans made the brothers feel right at home with their friendliness and generosity, even when many had so little.
“It was quite flattering, actually, when they kept taking my shirts and wearing them around, and eventually they all had one,” he said, laughing.
“When I asked them why, they said they all wanted to look like me.”
The Vava’u solar farm is part of the Outer Islands Renewable Energy Project, which includes eight other Tongan islands.
The project is designed to help Tonga reduce its fossil fuel imports for power generation by half and ease the nation’s carbon footprint and million-dollar diesel bills.
