MHPP entec

MINI HYDRO POWER PROJECT

newsletter RENEWABLE ENERGY

4th EDITION, APRIL 2003

Grid Inter-Connection Training in Bandung

As part of MHPP's efforts to support the small scale grid con-
nected renewable energy program (PSK Tersebar) introduced
in June 2002, a 4 day training course was held in Bandung
between 6 9th March to introduce the “Mainscon
Synchronisation, Protection & Inter-Connection” technology.
The Mainscon units are manufactured by GP Electronics, UK.
Two such units will be installed on MHP schemes in East Java
later this year as part of MHPP's inter-connection program. Mr
David Roberts from the UK based firm Dulas Ltd. conducted
the training where a full simulation of a typical installation was
carried out, introducing the various functions of the Mainscon
units. The system operates in combination with an electronic
load controller (ELC). All the necessary protection modules
for both “buyer” and “seller” are integrated with the synchro-
niser in one single compact unit.
Photo 2: Testing of the turbine – pump arrangement was carried out in
cooperation with the Pusat Penelitiaan dan Pengembangan Sumber Daya Air,
Bandung (Water Resource Research & Development Center).

Grid Inter-Connection Training in Bandung

In February MHPP conducted a three day training program
for PT. Chakra at the Dewata Tea Estate following the full
commissioning and operation of the MHP scheme. The
training was attended by 20 participants from the company
and covered issues including MHP plant operation, service
& maintenance and financial management of the scheme.

Photo 1: Mr D. Roberts explaining the operational functions of the Mainscon

inter-connection technology to participants during the mainscon training
course held in Bandung during March 2003

Similar systems have been successfully installed in a number

of projects in Sri Lanka and represent a relatively simple and
cost effective option for MHP schemes where flow control is
either too expensive or not considered essential. The training
was attended by 15 participants from Java, Sumatra and
Sulawesi. They represented private companies, NGO's and the
national utility PLN.

End Use Options - MHP Powered Water Pumping

MHPP together with a local manufacturer of mini hydro equip-
ment in Bandung has recently completed the design, construc-
tion and testing of a cross-flow turbine driven water pumping
system. The scheme is to be exported to Cameroon and will be
installed to supply water to a rural hospital. The arrangement
features two cross flow turbine units driving two separate
multi-stage centrifugal pumps. The turbines will operate under
a head of seven meters. The pumps will supply 200,000 liters
of water per day to a height 56 meters above the river water
level. Prior to pumping the water will pass through a sand filter
system. Although this particular system is for export, this tech-
nology could also be applied for water supply systems in
Indonesia, where suitable site conditions exist. Such setups pro-
vide a perfect daytime end use for mini hydro schemes whilst
making a significant contribution to the welfare of rural com-
munities. For more information please contact MHPP.
Photo 3: Particpants of the MHP operation & management training held at
the Dewata mini hydro power plant between 23 -28th February 2003.
The plant went into full operation in January 2003 and cur-
rently substitutes approximately 1000 liters of diesel/day.
Efforts are now underway to exploit the excess power from
the power plant for substituting diesel fuel used in the tea
withering and drying process (oil fired burners).
MHP Initiatives in West Sumatra
In February representatives from MHPP carried out a week
long field visit to West Sumatra to visit the MHP activities
of the Pusat Pengembangan Pembangkit Mikro Hidro -
P3MH (Micro Hydro Development Center), a unit within
the technical faculty of the Univesitas Negeri Padang. This
unit was established and is headed by Mr. R.Muh Enoh, a
veteran micro hydropower specialist in the region. Involved
in the implementation of many MHP schemes over the past
20 years in West Sumatra, Mr. Enoh specializes on
crossflow and propeller schemes in the 5 - 50kW size range
for rural electrification. The field trip included visits to six
schemes in the districts of Pasaman and Solok.An overview
of the schemes visited is presented in the table below:
MHP Project Turbine kW Year
Tanjung Durian I Propeller 10 2001
Talang Kuning Propeller 10 1994
Situak X-Flow 15 2000
Silayang X-Flow 15 1997
Matunggak Propeller 7.5 2001
Batu Balenong Propeller 20 2000
All of the schemes visited operate as “stand alone” schemes
supplying electricity for the local communities. One of the
current focuses of P3MH in implementing its MHP
schemes is on encouraging productive end use amongst the
users. This is aimed at improving the financial viability of
schemes whilst stimulating economic development in the
respective villages. In the village of Tanjung Durian for
example, the scheme owned by the Al Hikmah foundation
was built incorporating a rice milling unit driven via a direct
belt drive. This mill is operated during the daytime as a busi-
ness unit of the foundation. In the evening the scheme
drives a generator providing evening lighting to approxi-
mately 80 local households. Encouraged by the success of
the first scheme, Al Hikmah is currently exploring possibil-
ities to secure finance for a second unit in order to supply the
remaining households in the village. P3MH has identified a
suitable site and is currently preparing a project proposal
with assistance from MHPP for the scheme.
The MHP in the village of Silayang has been operating
since 1997. The scheme supplies 125 houses in the village
with evening lighting. Located 40 km from the nearest tar-
mac road, access to Silayang is only possible by four wheel
drive vehicle. The MHP has accumulated over 35,000 oper-
ating hours since being commissioned in May 1997. Efforts
to develop sustainable productive end uses in the village are
proving more difficult than anticipated. The complexity of
SME development in rural areas where limited infrastruc-
ture and human resources exist has been highlighted in
Silayang. In 2000 a small scale coffee processing plant was
established to process, package and sell the locally grown
Photo 3: The 10kW propeller turbine in Tanjung Durian drives a Rice Milling
Unit (RMU) during the daytime and a generator during the evening. The
schemes was built by P3MH Padang on behalf of the Al Hikmah foundation.
coffee to other towns in the district. Assisted by a local
NGO, this enterprise operated for two years, purchasing
electricity power from the MHP to drive the processing
machinery. This provided useful additional income for the
Perusahaan Listrik Desa Silayang – PLDS (Silayang
Village Electricity Company) which owns and runs the
MHP scheme. Marketing problems associated with poor
access to the village have recently restricted sales to
House Silayang and the immediate surrounding area, reducing rev-
90 enue generated from energy sales to the coffee industry.
80
90
125
40
120
Photo 4 (Left): Small scale agro processing such as coffee processing and
rice milling can significantly increase revenue for stand alone MHP schemes
through daytime electricity sales. Photo 5 (Right): Extremely difficult access
to Silayang especially during the wet season, is one factor hindering
economic development in the village
MHPP - DGEEU Visit Central & East Java
Between 31st April – 4th May representatives from MHPP
and the Directorate General for Electricity & Energy
Utilization (DGEEU) visited the provinces of Central and
East Java. In Central Java the team visited the district of
Wonosobo where at the request of the local government
they made a joint presentation to district parliamentarians
on renewable energy resources and how these could con-
tribute to economic development. Representatives from
DGEEU introduced recent legislative changes within the
power sector, in particular the introduction of the small
scale renewable energy power producer program (PSK
Tersebar) legislation. On the second day, field visits were
made to two potential sites in two separate sub-districts.
Between 3-4th April the delegation proceeded to East Java
where they visited two 30 kW schemes in the districts of
Trenggalek and Mojokerto. Meetings were held with repre-
sentatives from the two villages to discuss preparations for
their proposed inter-connection with the PLN grid via the
PSK program. Both schemes have been operational since
1994 and have sufficient excess capacity to make the con-
version financially viable.
Mini Hydro Power Project (MHPP) is a cooperation project
between the Diretorate General or electricity and Energy
Utilization within the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral
Resources and German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) on behalf
of German Government
EDITORIAL
Jl. Cisatu 193, Bandung 40142, Indonesia, Phone/Fax +62 (0) 22-203 21 28,
Web Site: http://www.mhpp.org
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