Micro Hydro in Borneo

2012-01-19T20:21:00.000-08:00

Electro mechanical equipment for Microhydro supplied by HEKSA HYDRO based in Bandung, Indonesia.

our first project in 2000 (Long Lawen MHP) used this equipment and 12 years later, still running well. more importantly spare parts are available and we are able to provide the post project service to our community based projects in case the community operators cannot solve the technical issues which is quite rare. ERA WIRA Sdn. Bhd. have been established to give the after sales service to all equipment supplied by HEKSA Hydro in Malaysia.

Sabah villagers harness power of river water

2011-10-21T04:09:00.000-07:00

PENAMPANG: Though their village remains inaccessible by road, 400 villages of Kampung Buayan on the Crocker Range here are enjoying round-the-clock power supply.

The electricity is not only free but is produced in a pollution-free way by harnessing the power of a nearby river.

Versatile: The power house incorporating the mini-hydro system.

This mini-hydro system was launched by Penampang MP and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, on Monday.

Having power supply means so many things to so many people here. Schoolgoing children are now able to study at night and use a computer at home,” said Robert Gubal, 33, headmaster of the village’s only primary school which has 53 pupils.

Kampung Buayan chief John Sabating, 45, said the system was capable of generating up to 10 kilowatts of electricity. The villagers no longer needed to rely on kerosene lamps and small generators that used expensive petrol, he said.

“The system also means there is no longer a need to carry fuel from Donggongon town, which required a three-hour walk and a hour’s ride on a four wheel drive,” he added.
Village technology: Dompok (right) being briefed about the system by Pacos Trust member Adrian Lasimbang (left).

The villagers built the system with help from Raleigh International volunteers and technical support from local NGOs namely Partners in Community Organisation, Tonibung and Jaringan Orang Asal seMalaysia.

Danish International Development Agency (Danida) contributed RM250,000 for the system that cost RM450,000. Another RM100,000 was contributed by Dompok and Moyog state assemblyman Donald Mojuntin.

Pacos Trust president Dr Felix Tongkul said the Kampung Buayan mini-hydro system was the fifth to be supported by Pacos, with the earlier ones being built in Long Lawen, Belaga and Bario Asal in Sarawak and Kampung Terian and Kampung Bantul in Sabah.

The system produces electricity via a small turbine with an electronic load controller for stability and safety.

The project included enrichment planting and mapping to ensure sustainability of the water resource that ran the system. Dr Felix said the system incorporated a rice mill and an irrigation system as well.

Related Story
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2005/4/26/features/10758254&sec=features

© 1995-2009 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Pre Project Activities

2011-10-21T04:01:00.000-07:00

Minihydro power for fourth remote village

2011-10-21T03:18:00.000-07:00

Another story on the opening ceremony of our 4th community micro hydro in Pensiangan and 12th in Malaysia in the Boreno Post.. see link below

http://www.theborneopost.com/2011/10/19/minihydro-power-for-fourth-remote-village/

Bank brightens lives of 200 with hydropower

2011-10-21T03:14:00.000-07:00

10/20/2011
By Kristy Inus

PENSIANGAN: It used to be annoying for pupils in the remote Kampung Nabawan, near here, to study as they were disturbed by the sound but the noisy generators have since been replaced.About 200 people from 25 homes here can now lead brighter lives thanks to a 3kW micro hydropower generator.Located about five hours' drive from Kota Kinabalu and an hour's boat ride, the riverine village has become the latest remote area in the district to be powered with renewable energy.This is the result of a successful collaboration between the non-governmental organisations, corporate sector and the rural communities there.

The RM89,000 project was funded by CIMB Bank through the CIMB Foundation that channels grants to projects under its Community Link initiative.The project took 10 months to complete in a gotong-royong manner by community members, who received technical support from indigenous people-focused non-governmental organisations (NGOs), namely Tonibung, the Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (Joas) and Pacos Trust.

Nabawan assemblyman Datuk Bobbey Suan said one of the immediate beneficiaries of the project were children."They can now enjoy a more conducive environment at home to study under better lighting and without the annoying loud noise of a diesel-powered generator set," said Bobbey, who is also Sabah assistant minister of agriculture and food industry, during the launch of the programme.

Project coordinator Adrian Lasimbang said having renewable energy as their source of power had relieved villagers of a heavy financial burden.Previously, they were generating electricity to their homes using generator sets with fuel costs between RM200-RM300 monthly, which was rather an expensive amount for a community of traditional fishermen and farmers."Now, instead of spending money on fuel, they can generate some extra income."Renewable power allows them to keep their fish fresh. They can now fetch a higher price at the local market," said Adrian, who is also the climate change workgroup expert in Joas.

Adrian was previously involved in the setting up of micro hydropower system in three other communities along the Pensiangan River -- namely at Kampung Bantul, Lumpagas and Inakaak.He hopes to replicate similar projects in areas still too remote from the power grid.To date, only about 30 per cent of areas in Pensiangan district is connected to the electricity grid.

( END )

Copyright 2011 New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) BerhadAll Rights Reserved

http://www.power-eng.com/news/2011/10/1524077495/bank-brightens-lives-of-200-with-hydropower.html

Projek Mikro Hidro Komuniti

2011-09-28T11:16:00.000-07:00

video Pendek pembinaan mikro hidro di Kg. Inakaak Daerah Pensiangan Sabah

Micro Hydro Project Video

2011-09-28T02:29:00.000-07:00

A short Video done by our Intern from Green Empowerment. just to give some background on the whole micro hydro initiative that we started over 10 years ago

Renewable Energy on the TOP of Borneo

2011-09-22T20:50:00.000-07:00

My latest Renewable Energy Project

Harnessing nature's energy at the World Herritage Site

Recently (12-17th September 2011) we installed microsolar solar water heater at Pendant hut, Labanrata Mt. Kinabalu for Mountain Torq Sdn. Bhd. the operator of the world's highest Via Feratta. Highest effciency solar water heater in the world for the highest via ferrata in the world... how about that! .. double world class

During the installation the weather is VERY cold 8-9 deg cel (for someone coming from the tropics) but still the Microsolar can heat water up to 55 deg cel. its steaming hot in this altitude (3,300 m Asl)

Apart from installing 2 units of high efficent evacuated tube Microsolar solar water heater, we also installed 800watt peak of Solar PV to provide electricity for essential loads at Pendant Hut. Solar PV will be combined with small Pico Hydro system as a Solar-Hydro Hybrid in later Phase.

This is the Solar Hydro Main controll panel designed and build by me. The KWh meter will track how much RE power have contributed to the operations of Pendant Hut.

This time rain was very heavy.. swelling up all the usually unseen rivers up in the mountain. in this condition its not safe to install the hydro turbine. too bad we have to KIV the installation of the Pico Hydro system.. anyway a good opportunity to get back up Mt Kinabalu.

The Pico Hydro trubine and its components on "shelf" till the next phase.. when weather is better. once the Solar Hydro Hybrid is commisioned.. pendant Hut will be Autonomous from the ever failing SESB utility Grid at Lanbanrata. Labanrata experiance 4-5 Grid blackouts a day!

More to come.. stay tuned

UMS Solar Wind Hybrid Demo Unit

2011-08-13T06:44:00.000-07:00

Base for stay cabled monopole for wind Turbine

Installing Monopole

Installing turbine Blades

Installing solar panels. Dr Jedol from School of Scince and Technology also helping

The completed Demo unit at UMS SST.. Group of students, Lecturers and volunteers posing for the occasion. Estimated Cost RM10,000. Turbine and panels donated by ERA WIRA Sdn. Bhd

Power To The People

2011-08-13T06:25:00.000-07:00

Power to rural folks via micro-hydro system

http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=%2F2011%2F8%2F8%2Flifefocus%2F8833053&sec=lifefocus

By ALLAN KOAY
star2@thestar.com.my

A micro-hydro system that is environment-friendly and requires the participation of the villagers is generating waves in rural Sabah and Sarawak.

IMAGINE if you will, a small village in the remotest part of Sabah, where there are no roads and where the villagers are almost cut off from the outside world.

Now imagine if you lived in this community and your only source of electricity is a diesel generator, and you have to go on an arduous eight-hour trek through rough terrain to get your weekly supply of diesel.

This place actually exists, and it is called Kg Terian, 25km from Penampang and a five-hour walk from Crocker Range Park. But the villagers there do not have to endure the back-breaking ordeal of carrying diesel through the hilly landscape anymore, thanks to a 200-year-old technology

Through the enterprise of an engineer self-taught in this technology, as well as the efforts of various NGOs, a wave of change has come to Sabah and Sarawak.

Adrian Lasimbang showing a turbine which he assembled in his workshop. ‘There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing the smiles of the people when their village is lit up.’

It all started in 1999 in Long Lawen, an extremely remote village in upper Bakun, Sarawak. There are 70 households living there, and access to the village is via a logging road seven hours from the Bakun Dam. The villagers were among those displaced by the Bakun Dam project and told to relocate to a settlement. But they defied the eviction order and returned to their ancestral land.

Pre Project Activities -2

2010-10-21T08:02:00.003-07:00

top left- measuring level, top right- measuring flow using flow meter, bottom left -topography and head measurement using theodolite, bottom right - measuring flow using salt gulp method

Sharing some information about micro hydro

2010-10-20T05:14:00.000-07:00

Benefits of Micro Hydro

2010-10-20T04:52:00.000-07:00

It is cheap and affordable alternative, each CBMHP system can be constructed, installed and operated by a single Project grant of US$ 50,000.

The electricity benefit the entire local community or village and thereby improving their sustainable livelihoods and alternative income opportunities

local community members is also capable to operate and maintain the system and make repairs when required.

Mitigating climate change from the emission of GHGs from diesel-run generators,

Enhances the conservation of biodiversity by managing the water catchments areas to ensure the steady and consistent flow of the river water for driving the micro-hydros.

Linking Remote Communites to the World

2010-03-03T16:18:00.000-08:00

E-Buayan .. linking the community to the world

Community Tele centre powered by Solar and Micro Hydro power. this centre is linked to the internet using VSAT (very small apature terminal) at a broadband speed. the centra is also equiped with 6 units of small netbooks, an all in one printer,scanner,fax & copier. we all know the effect and the dangers of the internet, so we took very big efforts to train the community and ensure the positive use of internet.

View of the Tele centre, powered by Solar and Micro hydro system. infront of the building is the VSAT
the centre is an initiative by UNIMAS, PACOS and Community funded by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI)
Training for local champions to operate and maintain the centre is also conducted. the community has come up with a very interesting business model to sustain this centre in the future which includes Eco-Tourism, e-marketing and e-Banking.

The tele centre also installed with pay phones for the community use. this have made huge difference when it come to communications to the outside world. before this, the community have to walk at least for one hour to the nearest hill top to make a phone call using cell phone. but now they can make phone call to love ones right at their back yard..

But we don't stop there. as part of out pilot project, we are going to install a Nano GSM system in the tele centre that enables GSM cell network signal in the community and connected using the existing VSAT instead of contstructing a RBS tower and using Micro wave that consumes huge ammount of electricity. the VSAT system does not use lot of energy only around 100 watts - so even a 1 kw solar power system is enough to power the whole system including the telecente.

Community members carrying solar panels for the Tele Centre, the village can only be reached by 4 hours trekking along narrow trails or by helicopter. All the equipment had to be transported by porters or Helicopter

Powered By Green Energy

2010-01-03T06:03:00.001-08:00

There was an article at The Star about our micro Hydro project in Kg. Lumpagas that we just kicked off last month through generous support from DiGi .. next month we will start similar project through support from CIMB bank in Kg Saliman. lets light up Pensiangan.. the last frontier of Sabah!!

you can see the full article through the following Link

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/3/focus/3105412&sec=focus

Sabah villagers harness power of river water

2009-08-15T11:50:00.002-07:00

The Star Online > Southneast
Thursday July 30, 2009
Story and photos by NORMIMIE DUIN

PENAMPANG: Though their village remains inaccessible by road, 400 villages of Kampung Buayan on the Crocker Range here are enjoying round-the-clock power supply.

The electricity is not only free but is produced in a pollution-free way by harnessing the power of a nearby river.

This mini-hydro system was launched by Penampang MP and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, on Monday.

Having power supply means so many things to so many people here.

“Schoolgoing children are now able to study at night and use a computer at home,” said Robert Gubal, 33, headmaster of the village’s only primary school which has 53 pupils.

Kampung Buayan chief John Sabating, 45, said the system was capable of generating up to 10 megawatts of electricity.

The villagers no longer needed to rely on kerosene lamps and small generators that used expensive petrol, he said.

“The system also means there is no longer a need to carry fuel from Donggongon town, which required a three-hour walk and a hour’s ride on a four wheel drive,” he added.

The villagers built the system with help from Raleigh International volunteers and technical support from local NGOs namely Partners in Community Organisation, Tonibung and Jaringan Orang Asal seMalaysia.

Danish International Development Agency (Danida) contributed RM250,000 for the system that cost RM450,000.

Another RM100,000 was contributed by Dompok and Moyog state assemblyman Donald Mojuntin.

Pacos Trust president Dr Felix Tongkul said the Kampung Buayan mini-hydro system was the fifth to be supported by Pacos, with the earlier ones being built in Long Lawen, Belaga and Bario Asal in Sarawak and Kampung Terian and Kampung Bantul in Sabah.

The system produces electricity via a small turbine with an electronic load controller for stability and safety.

The project included enrichment planting and mapping to ensure sustainability of the water resource that ran the system.

Dr Felix said the system incorporated a rice mill and an irrigation system as well.

Micro hydro power best rural option: Dompok

2009-08-15T11:32:00.000-07:00

Daily Expores

Published on: Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Penampang: Micro hydro power systems which are now supplying round-the-clock electricity to a few remote villages in Sabah may be the answer to lighting up the farthest reaches of the State.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said he had mooted the idea to the Government as the only alternative for villages in rural areas.

"It is because you can't connect every village to the power grid. I'm very happy there are NGOs interested in this. Otherwise, it is something the Government has to do."

Dompok, who is also Penampang MP, said this after launching a 10kw micro hydro powere system for residents of Buayan, a remote community tucked deep in the foothills of the Crocker Range, Monday.

He was responding to Malaysian Environmental NGOs (Mengo) Coordinator (Community-Based Natural Resource Management), Adelaine Tan, who said besides being a renewable energy system it would contribute to the watershed conservation programme in this area.

"This micro hydro system should be emulated in other remote parts of Sabah and Malaysia and our government should seriously consider financial support for this system under the 10th Malaysian Plan," she said.

The micro hydro power system is an integrated system that incorporates renewable energy and watershed conservation as well as rice mill and irrigation system for socio economic development.

At Buayan, villagers who used to depend on fuel-powered generator now get to enjoy uninterrupted power, thanks to the RM450,000 facility which has been up and running since last month.

This will certainly bode well for the farming community of about 30 families, comprising more than 300 people, as they look to improve their lot in the village which is about six hours walk from Donggongon town.

The facility was put up through a gotong-royong effort by the community with organisational and technical support from Partners of Community Organisations or Pacos, local organisation Tonibung and Jaringan Orang asal SeMalaysia (JOAS).

A delighted Dompok had nothing but praise for those involved in the project. "I think it (effort) is very laudable (and) very encouraging to see the working relationship between the people, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government.

"This is a very do-able project with everyone throwing their weight behind it," he said to reporters who were taken by helicopter to the village.

"Hopefully the residents would continue with the cooperation among themselves and probably the NGOs to ensure this (effort) is continued.

"I think this is working and it is a good thing that the community is getting together to organise themselves, with the help of NGOs and the Government."

Initiated in 2006 following preliminary survey works at the Tomboining River, the system design and full proposal was completed in March 2007 with collaboration from Era Wira Sdn Bhd, a local company promoting alternative technology, and Indonesian-based company specialising in micro-hydro technology, Heksa Hydro.

Through the proposal, a total grant amounting ton RM250, 000 was secured from Danida (Danish International Development Agency) through JOAS, and UNDP Global Environment Facility's (GEF) Small Grant Programme through Tonibung.

The MP and Assistant Finance Minister-cum-Moyog Assemblyman Donald Mojuntin also contributed RM100,000 to the project through various allocations.

The micro hydro site was completed in 2008 through cooperation between the local community and volunteers from Raleigh International.

Pacos Trust President, Dr Felix Tongkul said the Kg Buayan residents were itching to get a micro hydro system ever since their neighbours in Kg Terian, about three hours walk from the village, obtained theirs about four years ago.

Among the problems they faced were funding and getting the villagers to support the project which was not too difficult to do.

"The important thing was whether the community really wanted it and they did (and) they were also supported by nearby villages," he said, calling for continued assistance from NGOs and the government in implementing more community-based projects.

This micro hydro power system is the fifth of its kind supported by Pacos since 2001, with the previous ones implemented at Long Lawen in Belaga, Kg Terian, Kg Bantul in Pensiangan and Bario Asal in Bario.

http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/print.cfm?NewsID=66623

“A Simple Technology for Complicated Woe” Community Based Micro Hydro for rural electrification in Sabah and Sarawak

2009-08-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

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 essential infrastructure 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 diesel generators 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 pay more 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.

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 the invention 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 making it 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 and Irrigation Department (DID). As a solution, community-based Micro Hydro projects emphasize the people’s participation in all aspects of project conceptualization, design, installation, and implementation. These projects have the greatest likelihood 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.

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 Awards ) 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 people’s participation in all aspects of project planning, installation, management, and maintenance. 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

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, Kenyah Badang, 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 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 project was 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 300 liters of kerosene per year, which is 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 project cost 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 Asal has 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.

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 it’s the government’s 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.

The Unsung Heroes.. Maverick Kampung Engineers takes on the challenge to Electrify the Rural Areas in Sabah and Sarawak

2009-07-16T19:26:00.000-07:00

Rural electrification through conventional methods such as grid connection and diesel generators is either very costly, or - in the case of grid extensions – simply not in the plans for the foreseeable future. Conventional methods result in emissions that are harmful to human health and the environment. They add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, which traps sunlight and causes global climate change. With the rise of fuel prices, diesel generators become an economic burden on low-income families, eliminating the economic benefits of electricity.

It is a sad fact that remote rural communities have to pay more to enjoy diesel and petrol-fueled electricity supply. The additional costs very often cover the long distance transportation. Hence they pay twice if not three times 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. Yet having electricity provides light at the end of the tunnel to raise their standard of living. The big question is: what are the alternatives?

One is by harnessing what has been freely available in the communities’ own backyard: water power or in its technical term, hydropower.

Hydro power is the oldest form for technology to harness energy from natural resources since the invention 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.

Throughout my journeys in working with rural communities to develop their own micro hydro system, I have came across many innovative efforts community technical champions in trying to design their own micro hydro system. Some was successful but some does not really work to its desired intensions. The idea is there, but they lack the technical knowledge particularly on Civil and Electrical engineering.

One of the most interesting homemade micro hydro systems that I came across was in Kg. Garas, Tambunan, where our unsung hero and maverick Kampung engineer Mr. Hamid Jasmin, through trial and error developed his own undershot waterwheel from scrap metal and second hand automotive parts. He designed this waterwheel all from the knowledge he acquired from a small handbook, he named this waterwheel “Balasut”. Hamid creatively used old cement mixer sprockets and a used car gearbox for the speed increaser to enable the waterwheel turn the generator to a specified speed to generate electricity.

The design is simple and cheap by making use of second hand parts and scrap metal. However there is still need for improvement on the design particularly on the civil structure design, mechanical and electrical control system. The prototype that was installed in Kg. Garas, Tambunan require the drive belts to be changed once in 3 months. The drive belts cost can cost up to RM 400 making it the highest maintenance cost otherwise the operational cost will be minimal. It is recommended that the system should use flexible coupling from drive shaft to the gearbox.

One of my key concerns on this system is the lack of safety on the electrical system. The system does not have any load controller and voltage regulator. The voltage of the system is very unstable mainly due to the problem from the drive system that controls the speed of the generator. Because of the inconsistent speed of the generator, the voltage sometimes reaches 350 volts! This is highly dangerous to users. Electrical appliance especially sensitive electronic devices can easily be damaged when connected to this voltage. Another concern is the lack of understanding of the importance of hydrology and civil works. Based on my observation, there is some serious concern on the location of the waterwheel which is located too near to the river bank, making it very vulnerable to flash floods. This is proven on one of the system that Mr. Hamid develop for Sabah Parks in Kg. Buayan Penampang which washed away by flood waters in September 2008.

The other interesting design I came across was in Kg. Abok Mawan in Serian, Sarawak. I was by chance visiting the neighboring village of Kg. Abok Aping. I met with another maverick kampung engineer named Jacob Emang and his son Ziegler. From their own initiative fabricated many different water wheels including a giant 15ft diameter bucket wheel installed in his fish pond, this bucket wheel is fabricated all from scrap metal. From his basic technical knowledge, Jacob designed a small waterwheel that uses two water jets to turn it. He called it “pipeton” wheel, mainly because it looks like a pelton turbine that he made from cut of half section of 4”pipe and welded to a flat belt pulley. His initiative have since caught the attention of a University Masters student and a local business man that worked together to get this prototype to be installed in Kg. Abok Mawan. Since it was installed it has been supplying electricity to the long house. However this system still requires some improvement particularly in the electrical control system.

These examples have shown how creative the community in trying to solve their problem. I think what is needed is some form of support to have technology transfer and trainings for the communities to enable them design and develop their own micro hydro systems. One of the good examples that can be replicated in Malaysia is the Micro Hydro Power Program (MHPP) in Indonesia that was supported by GTZ. This program was to facilitate technology transfer to local fabricators and manufacturers of small hydro turbine in Bandung. The program was very successful that today many of the local manufacturers are now producing very high quality turbines and control system for local installation and also for export. One of the participants of this program is HEKSA HYDRO; they are now one of the top designer and supplier of micro hydro system in the region. I have the opportunity to engage with HEKSA HYDRO in many of my micro hydro projects in Sabah and Sarawak.

We believe that similar program like the MHPP in Indonesia can benefit the local manufacturers to develop small business in micro hydro. Such program will also improve the local expertise in micro hydro to further develop their ideas to another level. Perharps MOSTI will be able to support such initiatives to improve the existing designs and use it for rural applications. PACOS have been conducting pilot projects and found that micro hydro is a better option to rural electrification through small scale renewable energy program.