Transcript
AKUILA TAWAKE: We visited not only the biogas plants, but also a number of technology manufacturing companies, that manufacture machinery that harvest the corn. So we visited them in order to fully understand, not only about the biogas generation, but also the technology. Based on that we concluded that the biogas plant in Germany is not only significant in terms of its contribution to power generation in Germany, but also in the district heating system because they also have heat that’s coming out of the generator as well as they generate a cleaner component of methane that feed into the gas grid. And also to the technology it is very much cleaner compared to some of the ocean energy technology that are currently under development, or at the research stage at the moment. We though biogas, because of its mature technology can be easily transferred to the Pacific, not only to Tonga but to other Pacific island countries.
KORO VAKA’UTA: You mentioned the mature technology, that technology that exists around biogas that would suit the Pacific. What other reasons are there that biogas would be best suited for islands in the Pacific?
AT: For example, because of the weather in Europe they only harvest the corn once a year, and then they harvest the corn for their substrate supply that feeds the biogas digester for one whole year. In the Pacific, because we are living in the tropics, we have the supply of grass and all the softer plant material available to use all year around. That’s a big plus to the Pacific island countries. Secondly, biogas generation is not only generating power but, as I said, they harvest the heat coming out of the generator, as well as the harvesting of methane gas for cooking purposes.
KV: And you mentioned ocean technology that’s being looked at. We also know there are things like solar, wind energy, that sort of thing. Could biogas work in collaboration or compliment those methods, or would you see this even bypassing that?
AT: It’s going to compliment them particularly for wind and solar because they also have mature technology in those resources as well. So they will be complimenting them.
KV: Yeah, Mr Tawake, it sounds very positive, are there are any things that might prove an obstacle for biogas use in the Pacific?
AT: One of the things that we have identified is the buy-in by the local people, particularly the farmers because in Germany most of the biogas plants are owned by the farmers themselves. So the incentive [is from] the government. But in the Pacific because it is a relatively new technology and most people are not aware of this. There is a bit of awareness and stakeholder consultation that needs to take place.
