Meeting The Challenges In Powering Rural Villages Of Sarawak Using Microgrid Systems 12-13 Nov 2013, Singapore

Chen Shiun, PhD General Manager, Research & Development

Outline

• Introduction – Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy

– Hydropower and other grid developments

• MicroGrid in Sarawak context – Why do we need MicroGrid?

– Rural electrification agenda and strategy

– Requirements and design of autonomous schemes

– Technological, political, regulatory and financial considerations

• Concluding remarks

Sarawak, Malaysia

• Sarawak is one of the thirteen states in Malaysia – Large geographical area (124,450 km2), North-West of Borneo Island

– 750 km along north-east coastline of Borneo

Large Hydropower Potentials

50 sites

Generally > 50MW

Total 20,000MW

Populations at West & North coastal areas

Hydro at East & South mountainous interiors

Sarawak Corridor Of Renewable Energy (SCORE)

• 20-year industrialization program focusing on unlocking rich natural resources to accelerate economic growth and to improve quality of life in Sarawak – Land and forest for agriculture and timber industries – Minerals (Silica sand & Kaolin clay) for industries – Energy resources for industries – 20,000 MW hydro; 1,467

million tonnes of coal and 40.9 trillion s.c.f. of natural gas

• 3 major growth nodes spread over 400km of coastal areas: – Samalaju for heavy industries; non-ferrous; iron and steel; silica

and petrochemical clusters – Tanjung Manis for resource-based industries; timber; wood;

palm oil; fishery; food processing and ship building – Mukah as nerve centre for knowledge development; R&D and

administrative services

Kemantan

Tudan

Engkilili Btg.Ai

Sarikei

Matang

Mambong

Existing 275kV lines

Existing 132kV lines

Existing 132kV substations

Existing 275kV substations

Sejingkat Biawak

M.Tabuan

4 x 24MW

2x50MW 2x55MW

2x30MW 4x7MW

1x30MW 6x6MW

Power Exports to Brunei & Sabah

Entinggan

Limbang, Lawas, Trusan, Tutoh, Tinjar

river basin

State Transmission Corridor

Hydropower potentials

Baram river basin

Upper Rejang river basin

Baleh, Balui river basins

Merit-Pila coalfield

Tg.Kidurong

Matadeng

Mukah

Tg.Manis

Kemena

Selangau

Oya Road

6x30MW 3x107MW

2x135MW

SCORE (Energy Intensive &

Resource Based Industries)

Coastal SCORE region

Coal deposits

Hydro potential region Samalaju

Mukah-Balingian coalfield

Power System Development

Power Exports to West Malaysia &

West Kalimantan

Load growth and installed capacity

Year Organic Customers

SCORE Industrial

Exports Total Loads

2012 1,076 MW 416 MW - 1,492 MW

2015 1,212 MW 1,957 MW 230 MW 3,399 MW

2020 1,448 MW 2,857 MW 330 MW 4,635 MW

Customers > 500,000 10-15 2-3

Year Natural Gas Coal Hydro Installed Capacity

2012 588 MW 480 MW 1,294 MW 2,362 MW

2015 588 MW 480 MW 2,494 MW 3,562 MW

2020 588 MW 1,080 MW 3,438 MW 5,106 MW

Potentials 1,600 MW 1,500 MW 4,032 MW 7,132 MW

TRUSAN HEP (Planned) – 240MW

LAWAS HEP (Planned) – 38MW

LIMBANG 1 HEP (Planned) – 42MW

LIMBANG 2 HEP (Planned) – 140MW

MURUM HEP (Under Construction) - 944MW

BARAM 1 HEP (Planned) – 1200MW

BARAM 3 HEP (Planned) – 295MW

BALEH HEP (Planned) – 1295MW

PELAGUS HEP (Planned) – 562MW

BATANG AI POWER STATION – 94MW

MUKAH POWER GENERATION – 270MW

TANJUNG KIDURONG POWER STATION – 190MW

SEJINGKAT POWER CORPORATION – 210MW

TUN ABDUL RAHMAN POWER STATION - 75MW

MIRI POWER STATION - 78MW

SARAWAK POWER GENERATION – 310MW MAIN POWER STATION

COAL POWER STATION

GAS POWER STATION

FUTURE HYDRO POWER STATION

HYDRO POWER STATION

LEGEND

MERIT PILA COAL (Planned) – 300MW

BAKUN HEP – 2400MW

BALINGIAN POWER STATION (Planned) – 600MW

SAMALAJU GAS POWER STATION (Planned) 600-800MW

9

BELAGA HEP (Planned) – 220MW

MIRI GAS POWER STATION (Planned) 600-800MW

MUKAH WEST2 (Planned) 600MW

MUKAH WEST1 (Planned) 600MW

The Bigger Picture, 2020 and beyond

Smart Grid Initiatives

• Smart Transmission Grid – Wide Area Protection: fast load shedding when islanding occurs – Expanding and adapting to new operating conditions

• Dominated by large hydropower plants • Dominated by large energy intensive demands that dwarf organic loads

– Wide Area Monitoring to improve situation awareness

• Smart Distribution Grid: Advanced Distribution Management Sys. – DMS, OMS, GIS, DSCADA, AMR/I – GIS based network information system to aid planning and operation – Expand distribution automation and integrate with Smart applications

• Smart Mini/Micro Grid – Intelligent solutions to operate and maintain reliable 24hr supply

schemes at far-flung locations – Access difficulties; unmanned/autonomous operation; satellite

communications; contain diesel use by integrating renewables

Rural Electrification • About 1.2 million lives in rural settings in 6,200+ villages

(~200,000 homes) • 50% of villages (33% rural population) have no 24hr electricity

– ~74,000 homes to energize

• Currently using diesel gensets for 3-4 hours of electricity each night • Reliable (24hr) and affordable electricity

Rural Electrification Strategy Total villages – 6236 • Energized – 3187 • Not yet energized – 2824 Within 1-2 years • Grid connection – 1414 • Hybrids – 39 Beyond 3 years • Grid connection – 1150 • Hybrids – 446

Year Grid

(RM mil) Hybrids (RM mil)

2010/2011 423 143

2011/2012 540 27.5

2012/2014 350 -

2013/2015 450 80

Access difficulties: poor road conditions

Access difficulties: river access only

Rural MicroGrid: Objectives & Requirements

• To replace individual diesel gensets with utility-grade and affordable 24 hour scheme – Rural stand-alone supply scheme at remote locations

but of “equal reliability and quality” as in cities – Many sites and remoteness: impractical to station

skilled staffs at sites, requiring unmanned operation – Absence of basic telecommunications: monitoring and

“control” via satellite communications – Difficult access: self-sustaining and automatic

recovery regime (with little/no manual intervention) – Reduce cost and emission: tap renewable energy

wherever possible to contain diesel use

Rural MicroGrid: Design Specifications

• Sizing on 24-hour load forecast / assumption – Household = 1 kW, 8 kWh/day – Clinic = 6 kW, 25 kWh/day – School = 12 kW, 50 kWh/day (ave. 6 classrooms/school)

• Ensure a practical level of reliability – N-3 criterion (dual inverters and multiple diesel sets) – Backup diesel fuel storage for 2 months – 3 day response time for on-site operation/maintenance

• Maximize use of renewable energy – Battery storage for one full autonomy day – 50:50, 70:30 or 80:20 solar:diesel energy ratio

Autonomous Solar Hybrid Schemes

Batteries with bi-directional

inverters

Solar panels with grid-tied inverters

Diesel genset backup

Satellite communication

2680Ah, 48Vdc x 8

5kW x 24 11kW x 21

238kWp

126kW x 2

65 homes, school & clinic

Three-phase LV network

Fully AC coupled scheme

Multi Village Design at Bario

Pa Ukat

Pa Umur

Padang Pasir

Bario Baru

• 9 villages, 233 homes & 1 airport • 472kWp DC coupled solar PV • 403kWp AC coupled solar PV • Batteries 2680Ah (480 pcs) x 3 • Bidirectional Inverter - 200kW x 3 • Genset -158kVA, 275kVA, 2 x 500kVA

Centralized Solar Hybrid System

11kV distribution network

Airport

Rural MicroGrid: Smart Applications

• Local onsite autonomous unmanned control – Voltage and frequency control on load variations – Solar PV operations (charging battery or supplying loads) – Battery charging and discharging cycles – Dispatching of diesel generator sets

• Remote monitoring for preventive maintenance – Equipment health status: solar PV temperature and

output; battery string voltage and energy cycles; diesel set operation cycles and fuel level

– Warnings and alerts relayed to HQ on unusual conditions or below-par performance

– Scheduling of crew’s inspection and maintenance

Rural MicroGrid: Operational Needs

• Restoration capability over system stability – System is small (low/little inertia) and therefore

difficult to maintain stability upon fault – Ability to self restore after interruption is suffice – Reliability over quality (N-3 design)

• Cost management – Maximise the use of renewable resources – Reduce diesel consumption and maintenance – Avoid unnecessary trips to site – Renewable to diesel energy ratio (50:50; 70:30; 80:20)

compromises between CAPEX and OPEX

Rural MicroGrid: Political, Regulatory and Financial Considerations

• Malaysia agreement that Federal is fully responsible for rural infrastructure – CAPEX and OPEX funding

• Regulatory concerns on private sector participation (sustainability) in utility services – Captive market requiring regulatory protection – Regulated tariff imposed for equal treatment of urban

and rural populace

• Financially not viable without subsidy (guarantee) – Rather high capital injection and concession requests – Continue with public funding to utility company

Concluding Remarks

• MicroGrid concept for remote isolated areas, unreachable by grid lines – Autonomous operation and self restoration

– Remote condition monitoring for maintenance

– Manage operation cost caused by access difficulties

• Hybrid schemes integrating renewable resources with diesel genset for backup – Renewable provides bulk of energy

– Diesel genset provides reliability

– Battery storage sized according to energy ratio target

Terima Kasih

www.SarawakEnergy.com.my