Community Based Micro Hydro Info

8/14/2019 Community Based Micro Hydro Info

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A Simple Technology for Complicated WoeCommunity Based Micro Hydro for rural electrification in Sabah and Sarawak

By: Adrian Lasimbang

Introduction

Sabah and Sarawak is blessed with high volume of rainfall every year and topographic

condition is hilly and mountainous. These areas are also rich in water; forest other biological

resources that sustain the livelihoods of many indigenous communities. Many of these

communities are very remote and dispersedly located on these hilly and mountainous areas,

making it challenging in terms of development.

In this new era of information and

communication technology (ICT),

electricity supply is the most essentialinfrastructure for development. Electricity

is also the key infrastructure enhancement

to provide opportunity for job generation

and vital income for village residents.

However, numerous rural communities in

Sabah and Sarawak are without electricity

services, which are a limiting factor in

socio-economic development, education,

and healthcare.

Rural electrification through conventional methods such as grid connection and dieselgenerators is either very costly, or - in the case of grid extensions simply not in the plans for

the foreseeable future. These conventional methods result in emissions that are harmful to

human health and the environment. With the rise of fuel prices in recent year rendering many

isolated diesel generators un-operational due to high maintenance cost. Even new solar

hybrid systems are affected by the cost since these systems still runs almost 50% on diesel

during rainy days; where in remote areas in Sabah and Sarawak average rainy days are almost

all year long!

With the rise of fuel prices, diesel generators

become an economic burden on low-income

families remote rural communities have to paymore to enjoy diesel and petrol-fueled electricity

supply, eliminating the economic benefits of

electricity. The additional costs very often cover

the long distance transportation. Hence they pay

twice or more the actual market price for every

liter to power generators, often for less than six

hours a day. Already burdened by poverty,

paying such a high cost for energy is like

rubbing salt to their financial wound.

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The Solution is Micro hydro power

Proposed solutions to these problems to provide electricity to remote communities in Sabah

and Sarawak is amazingly coming from its own obstacle which is its hilly and mountainous

terrain and high rainfall. These conditions are ideal criteria for a micro hydro system. Hydro

power is the oldest form for technology to harness energy from natural resources since theinvention of the water wheel by humans. It uses simple but practical form of spinning wheel

to harness power from water that is still in use today.

A micro hydro power system harnesses the kinetic energy of fast flowing water using a

turbine and converts it into mechanical power. The mechanical power then can be used

directly to drive agro processing

equipment such as rice mills or to

turn a generator to produce

electricity. Because of the size, the

system is very cost effective and

easy to operate and maintain makingit ideal for electrification in remote

and isolated communities

particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.

In the advancement of the digital

technology, Micro hydro digital load

control system has evolved Micro

hydro power into a system that is

very reliable and requires very low

maintenance.

Fig 1: Typical setup of micro hydro system

A micro hydro system is environment friendly since it does not require any dams that will

obstruct water flow and submerge vast areas because it is designed based on the available

flow of the river. It is carefully designed that not more than 60% of the water flow should be

used to ensure that the river continues to flow and support aquatic life. A small diversion weir

is all that is needed to divert water to an intake then to a penstock pipe that will run the

turbine (fig.1). This system does not conflict with the regulations of the Drainage andIrrigation Department (DID). As a solution, community-based Micro Hydro projects

emphasize the peoples participation in all aspects of

project conceptualization, design, installation, and

implementation. These projects have the greatestlikelihood of long-term successful operation because

community residents are invested in designing and

maintaining the systems. Since they have invested

their time, energy, and resources into project

development, they have ownership over the project

and work to keep it successfully running over the

long term.

( Micro Hydro installation in Kg. Terian Penampang, commissioned in 2005)

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The micro hydro system will directly serve the communities through increased capacity and

the availability of electricity, clean water, and agro-processing equipment powered by the

new electricity system. The villagers will be the direct beneficiaries of the trainings that are

designed and intended to empower the entire community at large.

It is an innovative and Award winning rural electrification program

This program was initiated through cooperation

between PACOS and ERA WIRA Sdn. Bhd.

building upon its previous successful and Award

winning (2006 ASEAN Energy Awards1)

Community Based Micro Hydro Projects in

Kg.Terian, Penampang and Kg.Bantul,

Pensiangan Sabah including Long Lawen, Belaga

Sarawak. Community-based micro hydro projects

emphasize peoples participation in all aspects of

project planning, installation, management, andmaintenance. The community work to keep it

running successfully over the long term because

they have ownership of the system.

PACOS trust is a community based NGO have been working on social and environment

issues since 1993. The organization has been responsible on the community aspect such as

community mobilizing, socio economic and watershed management component of the Micro

Hydro projects.

ERA WIRA SDN. BHD a renewable energy consultancy company has been responsible in

designing, installing and commissioning the successful Micro Hydro System in Long Lawen,

Terian and Bantul. Technical team specialized in renewable energy (Hydro and Solar energy)

feasibility, its technicians is trained in design and troubleshooting by ENTEC of Switzerland

and HEKSA HYDRO a small Hydro turbine manufacturer based in Bandung Indonesia. Have

vast network of the best Small Hydro turbine manufacturer and supplier in the region

1 Community Based Micro Hydro Project Runner-up of the Off Grid Category of the 2006 ASEAN Energy Awards,presented During ASEAN Energy Forum in Vientiane, LAOS.

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Past successful Community Based Micro Hydro Projects

Long Lawen, Belaga, Sarawak 10Kw

Located in very remote village in upper Bakun. Approximately 7 hours by logging road from

Bakun Dam. The micro hydro system supply 24 hrs electricity to 70 households, KenyahBadang, ethnic group. The micro hydro system has displace use of 56 diesel and petrol

generators. Saving about 15,000 liters of diesel annually, which is approximate RM 110,000

worth of diesel at location price (note: diesel selling at RM 7.50 per liter at nearby timber

camp)

The micro hydro system is also

integrated with rice mill mechanically

operated by turbine at the power house

contributing to the improvement of the

livelihood of the community. This project

was initiated in September 1999,Commissioned in April 2001. The total

cost of this project RM 280,000. Funded

by Seacology Foundation, Green

Empoerment and The Borneo Project

through US- Malaysia NGO assistance program.

Kg. Terian, Penampang, Sabah 5 Kw

This project is located in a remote village in Upper

Papar, Approximate 5 hrs by foot traversing Crocker

Range Park. No road linking this village. All

equipment has to be air lifter using helicopter. The

micro hydro system is supplying 24 hrs electricity to

25 house holds of the KadazanDusun Ethnic group.The micro hydro system also displace use of kerosene

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lamps, 12 diesel and petrol generators. Saving about 6000 liters of diesel 3000 liters of petrol

and 500 liters of kerosene per year, which worth approximate RM 16,000 worth of diesel,

RM 8,500 worth of Petrol and RM 3,500 worth of kerosene.

The micro hyro system is integrated with universal disk mill to produce flour mechanically

operated by turbine at power house for food processing and making animal feed. This projectwas initiated in November 2003 completed and commissioned in May 2005. The total project

cost is RM 188,000 and was funded by SEACOLOGY foundation, The Borneo Project and

Green Ville Foundation through US- Malaysia NGO assistance program.

Kg. Bantul, Pensiangan, Sabah 5 Kw

This project is located in a remote village in

Pensiangan District, takes approximately 5

hrs by road from Kota Kinabalu to Sapulut,

then another 3 hrs by boat. Very close to the

Malaysia - Indonesia border. The micro

hydro system is supplying 24 hrs electricity

to 20 households of Murut ethnic group.

The micro hydro system also displaces use

of kerosene lamps, 8 diesel generators.

Saving about 6500 liters of diesel and 300liters of kerosene per year, which is

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approximately RM 32,500 worth of diesel and RM 2,250 worth of kerosene. (note: Diesel

price is RM 5.00 per liter and kerosene at RM 7.50 per liter in nearby Pagalungan town)

The micro hydro system is integrated with universal disk mill to produce flour mechanically

operated by turbine at power house for food processing and making animal feed. This project

was initiated in November 2003 completed and commissioned in May 2005. The total projectcost is RM 188,000 and was funded by United Nations Development Program Global

Environment Facility - Small Grant Program (UNDP GEF SGP)

Kg. Bario Asal, Bario, Sarawak 40Kw

Located in the Kelabit highlands, this project is to revive the failed RM 17 million hybrid

micro hydro by the Ministry of Rural Development in 1997. The system has since been

abandoned and was partly destroyed by flash floods in 2003. The community of Bario Asalhas taken the initiative to revive this system through assistance from PACOS and Era Wira

Sdn. Bhd. This project is funded by the SEACOLOGY Foundation, GEF SGP, and the

Sarawak Development office. It is completed in January 2009.

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Conclusion

We strongly feel that Micro hydro is one of the answers to the rural electrification in Sabah

and Sarawak. It is a better alternative to the proposed 12 dams in Sarawak and the Coal fired

power plant in Sabah. Dams have adverse impacts to the livelihoods of Indigenous Poples

which we have seen in Batang Ai an Bakun Hydro projects and Coal fired power plants are

harmful to the environment and contributes to global warming.

NGOs and donor agencies have played a good role in promoting this benign technology, so

far through this pilot project a model have been established and now its the governments

turn to replicate and adopt this model. Malaysia should learn from its neighbors like

Indonesia and Thailand that have implemented a similar model.

In micro hydro terms, Small is beautiful and practical. In moving Malaysia towards

sustainable development, appropriate technology will always play an important role to

answer the complicated problems that lies ahead.

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Community Based Micro Hydro Info