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

Power System Development

Existing 132kV lines Existing 275kV lines Existing 275kV substations Existing 132kV substations Coastal SCORE region Coal deposits Hydro potential region Tudan 1x30MW 6x6MW

Power Exports to Brunei & Sabah

Limbang, Lawas, Trusan, Tutoh, Tinjar river basin

SCORE (Energy Intensive & Resource Based Industries)

Matadeng 2x135MW Mukah

Samalaju Tg.Kidurong 6x30MW 3x107MW Kemena

Baram river basin

Power Exports to West Malaysia & West Kalimantan

Biawak 2x30MW 4x7MW Matang Mambong Sejingkat 2x50MW 2x55MW M.Tabuan Entinggan

Mukah-Balingian coalfield Selangau Oya Road Tg.Manis Sarikei Kemantan State Transmission Corridor

Upper Rejang river basin

Merit-Pila coalfield

Hydropower potentials Baleh, Balui

river basins

Engkilili
Btg.Ai 4 x 24MW

Load growth and installed capacity

Year 2012 2015 2020 Customers Year Organic Customers 1,076 MW 1,212 MW 1,448 MW > 500,000 Natural Gas SCORE Industrial 416 MW 1,957 MW 2,857 MW 10-15 Coal Exports 230 MW 330 MW 2-3 Hydro Installed Capacity Total Loads 1,492 MW 3,399 MW 4,635 MW

2012 2015
2020 Potentials

588 MW 588 MW
588 MW 1,600 MW

480 MW 480 MW
1,080 MW 1,500 MW

1,294 MW 2,494 MW
3,438 MW 4,032 MW

2,362 MW 3,562 MW
5,106 MW 7,132 MW

The Bigger Picture, 2020 and beyond

LEGEND
MIRI GAS POWER STATION (Planned) 600-800MW MIRI POWER STATION - 78MW SAMALAJU GAS POWER STATION (Planned) 600-800MW

LAWAS HEP (Planned) 38MW

LIMBANG 1 HEP (Planned) 42MW

TRUSAN HEP (Planned)

LIMBANG 2 HEP (Planned) 140MW

TANJUNG KIDURONG POWER STATION 190MW

MAIN POWER STATION COAL POWER STATION GAS POWER STATION

SARAWAK POWER GENERATION 310MW BARAM 1 HEP (Planned) 1200MW MUKAH POWER GENERATION 270MW MUKAH WEST2 (Planned) 600MW MUKAH WEST1 (Planned) 600MW BALINGIAN POWER STATION (Planned) 600MW

BARAM 3 HEP (Planned) 295MW BAKUN HEP 2400MW MURUM HEP (Under Construction) - 944MW BELAGA HEP (Planned) 220MW

FUTURE HYDRO POWER STATION

HYDRO POWER STATION

MERIT PILA COAL (Planned) 300MW SEJINGKAT POWER CORPORATION 210MW PELAGUS HEP (Planned) 562MW BALEH HEP (Planned) 1295MW

TUN ABDUL RAHMAN POWER STATION - 75MW

BATANG AI POWER STATION 94MW

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 2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2014 2013/2015

Grid (RM mil) 423 540 350 450

Hybrids (RM mil) 143 27.5 80

Access difficulties: poor road conditions

Access difficulties: river access only

Rural MicroGrid: Objectives & Requirements

To replace individual diesel gensets with utilitygrade 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

Satellite communication

238kWp

Diesel genset backup

2680Ah, 48Vdc x 8
5kW x 24

65 homes, school & clinic

11kW x 21

126kW x 2
Three-phase LV network

Fully AC coupled scheme

Multi Village Design at Bario

Pa Ukat

11kV distribution network Padang Pasir

Airport Centralized Solar Hybrid System

Pa Umur 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

Bario Baru

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 crews 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