Hydropower Investment - Where to?

Hydropower is always related to rainfall. Area that is dry (low rainfall) suppose to be not very attactive for hydropower investment. Let's take a look only on the rainfall information. According to the latest document of Bappenas, the Indonesia Climate Change Sectoral Roadmap (ICCSR), rainfall in all areas in Indonesia will change. The changes are either an increase or a decrease. The simulation reported that Sumatera and Papua will have mostly increases of rainfall. Download ICCSR report here.

In Sumatera, central to south Sumatera might have significant increase of rainfall intensity. Siginificant increase means bigger than 25 mm and lower than 50 mm. Central to North Sumatera might have significant increase and very significant increase (higher than 50 mm). In Papua, all areas will have significant increase of rainfall with some months might have very significant increases of rainfall intensity.

Not the Right Time

Currently Indonesia is experiencing a strange climate condition. It is already July now and in July usually we have dry season with very very little rain. Instead of being very hot and dry, there are still rains throughout Indonesia. The meteorological bureau says that the anomaly is caused by La Nina phenomenon which extend the rainy season in Indonesia.

Energypedia.info - new renewable energy portal

The global energy program called Energizing Development or EnDev was initiated approximately 3 years ago by the Dutch government. It is also basically a cooperation program between Dutch government and German government. The target of EnDev is giving energy access to approximately 10 million people before 2015 (target year of MDG). EnDev is implemented by GTZ and operating in 19 developing countries in the world and active in four main areas of activities namely: energy for cooking, energy for household, energy for social infrastructure, and energy for productive use.

Basic Hydro Power - Part 4

Understanding the principle of head and flow and the importance to get correct data of them, then it is time to know more about components of a scheme. The basic components of a micro hydro scheme is illustrated below (source: MHP Scout Guide, GTZ Ethiopia).

Basic Hydro Power - Part 3

Suddenly you have to measure the head of a water stream. What kind of method would you use? Before answering such question, let's go back a little bit and review the map. With a quite detailed map someone can determine which position is best for the intake and power house and other components of the plant The planner has to draw a sketch and put the rough layout of the power plant on the map. The map should be quite detail (1:25000 scale might do). From the map, one can make an approximation of the head. Measuring in the field will verify the approximation.

Basic Hydro Power - part 2

We already know that flow of water and the height of water fall (or height difference of water flowing from point A to point B or to be short "head") are the important things one needs to know correctly before deciding to go for hydro power or not. Measuring those two parameters needs special skill. Special skill means one has to understand how to use the method and its weaknesses. Let's discuss about measuring flow of water. There are many ways or methods of flow measurement: current meter method, float method, tracer method (salt dilution/water conductivity for example), sharp crested weir method, gauging station method etc.

Basic Hydro Power - part 1

Well I guess many has already understand better that I do about hydro power, however there are still people who simplify the complexity of hydro power even the micro one. Questions like: if I have 500 liters per second, how much kW would I get, still comes to experts. This kind a thing needs an education and complex explanation of things would not help at all. So, I will try to give very basic understanding of how modern hydro power (micro size maybe to be specific) works. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Hydro power is basically power generation by utilizing water power (in this case in general the potential energy of falling water). Therefore the original use of hydro power is to give movement. Water drops move a water wheel that eventually makes certain mechanism to rotate or move and provide specific service. In the old days many mills are using hydro power directly to give movement to their mill facilities. Old hydro power systems use the weight of the water to move the wheel.

Translation of GOOD & BAD of Mini Hydro Power

GOOD & BAD of Mini Hydro Power (can be downloaded at the following link), will be available at least in 5 other languages (Cambodian, Laotian, Vietnamese, Indonesian and French). Two translation processes (into Vietnamese and Indonesian) are already on going while the other three are still in the administration process. If someone wants to translate into local language, he/she can contact ASEAN-Centre for Energy for the detail.

Important requirement for translation is that the quality of translation must be at top level so that it does not reduce the quality or meaning of the contents of the original English version.

ASEAN Centre for Energy
ASEAN Centre for Energy Building, 6^th Floor
Jl. HR. Rasuna Said Blok X-2, Kav. 07-08 Kuningan, Jakarta-12950, Indonesia
Tel. (62-21) 527 9332 · Fax. (62-21) 527 9350
Email. info@aseanenergy.org

Micro Hydro Development Roadmap - What to Expect?

Roadmap is basically a schedule for a certain sector to reach certain level. In a roadmap there should be at least time indicator and also milestones for each time indicator. However a roadmap is more complex than just a schedule since all the related milestones bring consequences in all aspects.

For example a roadmap of a bike shop, the main goal is to be the largest bike shop in town in 10 years. The milestones for example are: year one the shop has to sell at least 2 bikes a day; year two the shop has to become authorized distributor for 2 major bike brands and sells 3 bikes a day; year five the store area has to increase from 100 m2 to at least 200 m2 and so on and so on. The consequences that follow that road map can be for example: assess the competitors, develop cycling habits in town, find cheap bicycle supplier, train repair workshops in town, do some cycling activities with local government, increase number of salesmen, develop innovative financial support for bike owners etc.. To be concluded, there are many to do to materialize the roadmap.

Right now the government of Indonesia, especially Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources wants to create a roadmap for micro hydro power. I have not got my hand on it therefore these will be my expectations towards the roadmap. My expectations are:

• The roadmap must have realistic time frame
• The roadmap must have realistic and achievable targets
• The roadmap must not only considering micro hydro technology but also all related policy, standard, education, supporting activities, capacity of industry etc. that will eventually help to develop the market.

What’s a realistic time frame? To my knowledge, developing micro hydro competence in Indonesia took quite long time. Anyone can argue about the beginning of this, but the real and currently is becoming the mainstream of micro hydro development in Indonesia is the technology transfer of cross flow turbine back in early 90’s or late 80’s. Before that time frame government has tried to import technologies from Germany using BPPT’s capacity, in the late 70’s manufacturing capacities have been developed into state owned companies such as Barata, but all did not sustain (there are many reasons but cheap oil price might played the bigger role in it). They ended up as projects without any internalization of the technology. Right now the cross flow technology has reached its peak in Indonesia. It took almost 20 years to develop from zero to the condition right now (although one has to admit that the advance development is only limited to Bandung manufacturers such as Heksa, Cihanjuang and Kramatraya). So, I would say the realistic time frame is 20 years for the next leap. I might be conservative with this time frame because I consider the availability of academic experts that have the capacity in developing micro hydro technology (as the main motor of change in the sector). Like it or not technology must go beyond current status in the next 20 years. Other aspects will be supporting and creating condition for such advancement.

What should be the realistic and achievable target? I would say there are some achievable targets: simpler, reliable and easier to manufacture micro hydro hardware; more implementations not only for rural off grid but also on grid; more dispersed manufacturers; better sustainability of schemes; and better implementation of schemes. Currently the design for simple, reliable and easy to manufacture micro hydro turbine is available therefore it is realistic and achievable. More implementations means there is a need for better policy especially interconnection policy for micro hydro schemes. It is very realistic and is a must actually. More dispersed manufacturer might be the hardest part. Government has to take risks in order to develop new manufacturers so that they can produce quality hardware. Standard has to be established and government has to be strict and stick on its implementation.

Related to all above, the changes in policy, such as interconnection policy, will certainly give significant impact to the progress of micro hydro hardware technology. If there is a positive attitude in the policy there will be a boost in site implementation and local manufacturers will reap the benefit and if the market needs it, they can improve their technology. Not just that, sustainability of the scheme must also be considered. This means all schemes that have been erected must be monitored and supervised if necessary. Government better to prepare a nation wide program that ensures all erected micro hydro scheme are sustainable. Involving all stakeholders is necessary. Academics as the think tank and the source of technological advancement have to make their position strong by doing researches. All have to do their task in a synergistic way.

Last but not least, the roadmap has to be detail and really based on current strength, weaknesses, opportunity and also threads. The one who develops the roadmap has to have vast knowledge of the sector and should know what IPP stands for (i.e. independent power producer).

Cheers

Tough Choice: Hardware Quality or More MHP schemes (continued)

continuing the last blog post...

The fifth aspect concerns about financing. price factors could be a determinant of an MHP project implementation. current MHP project implementation is dominated by the government financing. The implementation process of government projects is always through the tender process. Tender process emphasizes the principle of "least cost". This means that whoever is the least expensive will get the contract. Although the specification has been determined in the tender document, but they are very general and can not cover quality issue except for poewr output. There are risks in this process and the risk was mainly caused by quality problems. If the government has a limited amount of budget, then simpler MHP schemes will be the only options since they can be cheaply implemented. the more MHP schemes constructed the better for electrification ratio.

The sixth aspect is government's political goal especially in the energy sector particularly rural electrification. Goal or target to be achieved by the government, is in general the increase of electrification ratio. For Indonesia the increase electrification ratio is very relevant since electrification ratio is still low. MHP is not the only one solution to increase the electrification ratio, but MHP is one of the solutions that can significantly increase electrification ratio. This means that with the same amount of funds, the number of households that will be electrified can more than other solutions such as solar home systems. With limited funds the government must race against time to increase the electrification ratio. The more MHP scheme are built the more funding is needed. If quality is sacrificed a bit, then there will be more MHP can be built and thus significantly increasing electrification ratio.

Of some aspects of the above, it seems that the goal to increase electrification ratio is of the dominant prime mover. The government has a time limit to reach a certain electrification ratio (if they have??). With limited funds, there is a tendency to optimize the available fund and therefore "least cost" option is chosen. The consequence of this might be the sacrifice of MHP hardware quality.

to my opinion, the way the government develop the sector will boost the growth of MHP hardware industry. New manufacturers can emerge in many places in Indonesia. although sustainability of the scheme might seem to be sacrificed by using less quality hardware, but sustainability still can be achieved by strong social cohesiveness. hardware is a precondition and social plus environmental aspects are important requirements for sustainable MHP scheme.

the government at the end has to decide that the industry has to move on to next level (e.g. quality wise). this means the product quality must be better, the product must perform better, the production method must be better, the skill of technician must be better, and the product must be reliable. good products will open up more opportunities to the people that get the MHP scheme to have better economic condition.

currently there are advance MHP hardware producer in indonesia, they have to keep the commitment to quality. for new manufacturers they have to develop them selves to improve their product quality. the role of government is very strong. government has to set minimun quality standard of MHP hardware. government has to support new manufacturers by using their products as long as they are meeting the minimum standard. government must also support industry to improve their production method, technician's skill, new hardware technology etc. cooperation with higher education institution cal also support the effort as long as the institution has strong background on MHP technology. the current introduction of public domain cross flow turbine design is a good start.

Finally, since government's role is very big, a clearly defined program and goals must be made available. The program should be based on current conditions and look ahead to what the sector wants. currently there are some projects (nation wide) that are closely related to MHP sector. government can put one or more of its goal into each project and the project will try to achieve it based on their available resources. what we need now is clearly defined program and clear understanding of strength, weaknesses, opportunities and thread.

may the sector develops in a better way.

Tough Choice: Hardware Quality or More MHP schemes

Development of micro hydro power (MHP) in Indonesia is so far encouraging. Encouraging in the sense that there are more and more MHP applications in Indonesia implemented by government institutions such as the local energy offices at the provincial or district level, the Ministry of energy and mineral resources, the Ministry of disadvantaged areas and other national or local programs.

The consequence of this is the increasing demand for better MHP hardware especially for turbine and control equipment. It is also necessary in to also have qualified expertise in MHP planning. MHP construction is not as easy as installing solar home system (SHS). Planning is the key element of a good MHP scheme. Once wrong planning is implemented, it will be fatal later on. Related to hardware issue, there are still some questions: how many producers are there in Indonesia? how good their products are? can they provide for hardware MHP demand? how important the hardware quality for the project owner? and many other questions. These questions ultimately come down to one important question: is the quality a priority?

High quality in general can be interpreted as reliability, durability, good performance, and usually also means higher price. high quality of workmanship demands a good production method, the skillful labor, and of good working tools. high quality can also be associated with more complicated production process that it eventually could encourage an increase in the level of hardware technology. This can further encourage research in the specific topic.

With the strong government's determination to increase the electrification ratio by using renewable energy, then there is a tendency to carry out as many MHP projects in Indonesia, especially in remote areas that are not electrified by PLN. if planning is not a problem, in the sense that they are done well and correctly, then the next question is the selection of hardware. Is quality hardware needed or not? There are no simplified answer for this, because there are consequences that must be accepted and there are sacrifices that must be taken. There are some aspects that might be influenced by the choice of hardware.

The first aspect is the sustainability of MHP. MHP will be eventually damaged if not properly maintained properly. Based on the assumption that good maintenance is performed by qualified personell, the equipment will operate better and only need spare part replacement after a longer period. this means that the risk of break down is also less and eventually it will improve the sustainability of MHP scheme.

The second aspect is the issue of MHP service. Based on the assumption that water resources available at design rate, higher quality hardware will produce more electrical energy (kW). High output means more people can be served or service levels can be improved (watts per house for example). It will open more economic potential for the people. Other than that, generally the quality of electrical energy generated is also better so as to enhance the level of the MHP service quality.

The third aspect is the potential of monopoly and limited production capacities. By not disparaging other MHP turbine manufacturers in Indonesia, producers in Bandung are in the front line of quality. Although not all producers in Bandung are strictly apply the principle of quality, but generally in terms of work quality and hardware performance, they are much better. If all are requesting hardware from Bandung, then there will be a big production pressure for them. This condition can lead to two negative things: potential of monopoly and lower hardware quality due to shorter time in the production process. The first potential negative impact will eventually affect other producers in Indonesia, they can not develop and improve their production skill.

The fourth aspect is the after sales service. A good after-sale is responsive and quick. it can be achieved if there is a representative of the manufacturer in the area or the producer himself in the area. After sales will be a bit problematic if the manufacturer is located quite far from the user. MHP hardware products are not OTC products. They are customized to client’s need. They are not mass product and the market is very specific. Having a representative in all areas will be just very expensive to the small scale manufacturers in Indonesia. It is therefore, more manufacturers all over Indonesia might be a good solution for better after sales service.

to be continued.....

GOOD & BAD of Mini Hydro Power

ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) through one of its programmes, ASEAN-German Mini Hydro Project (AGMHP), has just soft released their new publication. The new publication is a two volumes picture book containing good and bad practices in developing micro hydro power scheme, especially for rural electrification. The picture book is not yet officially launched, therefore in their website (http://agmhp.aseanenergy.org) only some samples are provided. The samples look promising. There are two chapters uploaded. Full version of the book can be downloaded as soon as the book is officially launched. There might be possibility to directly request the book to AGMHP (maybe at small cost).

I, fortunately, just got the two volumes at hand. They are fantastic. You can expect common failures in developing micro hydro shown in the book (note: cases are mostly coming from Indonesia experience). The book can suddenly make you an expert of micro hydro, and that is the real danger of this book. This book is actually informational in nature. It is not intended by the writer and by AGMHP that as soon as somebody reads the book he/she can become an expert. An expert needs proper education and also long and various field experiences.

This case reminds of a university teacher I met some months ago in a focused group discussion. This guy (he comes from reputable institute in Bandung) said that he already made more than 100 feasibility studies of micro hydro without even visiting the sites. He relies of Google Earth!! That's shocking. Every micro hydro has its own characteristics and one can only see and find it out when one is at the site taking measurements and samples. Google Earth does help, but one cannot rely on it to make a proper justifiable micro hydro feasibility study.

This GOOD&BAD book does not make someone an expert of micro hydro. He or she might later on able to criticize mistakes, but to give solution might be no, unless he/she gets proper education on the specific issue. Anyway, this book is worth to bring along during your visits to micro hydro sites. You can visit the download section of AGMHP website to find out the recent update.

Micro Hydro Terminologies - Third Batch

The following definitions are also coming from various sources, especially internet sources.

Civil Works

• Axis of dam: A vertical plane or curved surface, appearing as a line in plan or cross section, to which horizontal dimensions can be referred
• Baffle block: One of a series of upright obstructions usually of concrete, constructed in a channel or stilling basin, designed to dissipate the energy of water flowing at high velocity.
• Bedrock: A general term for any solid rock, not exhibiting soil-like properties, that underlies soil or other surficial materials.
• Cofferdam: A temporary barrier, usually an earthen dike, constructed around a worksite in a reservoir or on a stream, so the worksite can be dewatered or the water level controlled so that construction can proceed in the dry
• Dam: A structure to retain water inflows for specific uses
• Earth dam: An embankment dam in which more than the half of the total volume is formed of compacted fine grained material
• Forebay: Impoundment immediately upstream from a dam or hydroelectric plant intake structure.
• Gabion: Wire basket, filled with stones, used to stabilize banks of a water course and to enhance habitat.
• Headrace channel: A free-flow tunnel or open channel which conveys water to the upper end of a penstock (Definition Ref. ICOLD, Tech Dict Dams 1978
• Intake structure: A structure on the upstream dam face for the purpose of directing water into a confined conduit and eventually to the turbines. The intake structure provides for the installation of trashracks and gates to control the water flow.
• Overflow spillway: A spillway on a dam that functions like a dam, but allows water to safely flow over it.
• Power house: Structure that houses turbines, generators, and associated control equipments
• Rock anchor: A steel rod or cable placed in a hole drilled in rock, held in position by grout, mechanical means, or both. Similar to a rock bolt but usually the rock anchor is more than 4 meters long.
• Sand trap: Part of civil construction that has the function to separate the undesired sediment carried by the flow from the water
• Surge tank: An open-surface reservoir of water decreasing the effects of shock pressure waves in the penstock
• Tailrace: A channel for discharging water after the generation of electricity.
• Trust block (anchor block): A massive block of concrete built to withstand a thrust or pull.

Hydro Mechanical

• Expansion joint: A separation between adjoining parts of a concrete or steel structure which is provided to allow small relative movements, such as those caused by temperature changes, to occur independently.
• Gate: A movable, watertight barrier for the control of water in a waterway. See fixed-wheel gate,sluice gate, vertical lift gate, or wicket gate.
• Penstock: a pipeline bringing water under pressure to the turbine
• Sluice gate: A gate that can be opened or closed by sliding in supporting guides.
• Stop logs: Large logs, planks, cut timbers, steel or concrete beams placed on top of each other with their ends held in guides between walls or piers to close an opening in a dam, conduit, spillway, etc., to control the passage of water.
• Trash rack: A metal device placed at the intake structure that prevents floating or submerged debris from entering the intake.
• Manometer: An instrument used for measuring the pressure of liquids and gases

Mechanical Electrical

• Automatic voltage regulator (AVR): It is important part in Synchronous Generators, it controls the output voltage of the generator by controlling its excitation current
• Bearing: Device that supports, guides, and reduces the friction of motion between fixed and moving machine parts
• Bulb-type turbine: A hydroelectric set with its casing containing the generator and turbine immersed in the water flow
• Cavitation: The phenomenon of formation of vapour bubbles of a flowing liquid in a region where the pressure of the liquid falls below its vapour pressure. In devices such as propellers and pumps, cavitation causes a great deal of noise, damage to components, vibrations, and a loss of efficiency.
• Crossflow Turbine: Type of turbine that the water passes through the turbine transversely, or across the turbine blades.
• Electronic Load Controller (ELC): An electronic device that keeps a synchronous generator driven by a Micro Hydro turbine running at constant frequency irrespective of electrical loads
• Erosion: Damages on turbine parts (i.e. runner, needle, nozzle, runner buckets etc.) due to cavitation
• Francis turbine: A hydraulic reaction type turbine with fixed runner blades usually operated from a medium or low head source with medium flow rate
• Generator: Machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
• Impulse turbine: A turbine in which a fluid acts chiefly by its kinetic energy
• Induction Generator Controller (IGC): An electronic device that keeps an asynchronous motor + capacitors that is used as generator driven by a Micro Hydro turbine running at constant frequency irrespective of electrical loads
• Kaplan turbine: An axial hydraulic reaction type turbine with adjustable runner blades operated with a high flow rate
• Main circuit breaker: An automatic switch that stops the flow of electric current in a suddenly overloaded or otherwise abnormally stressed electric circuit
• Nozzle: A mechanical device designed to control the characteristics of a fluid flow as it exits (or enters) an enclosed chamber or pipe via an orifice.
• Pelton turbine: A hydraulic impulse type turbine usually operated from a high head source with small flow rate
• Propeller turbine: A Kaplan type turbine with non-adjustable runner blades suitable for non-varying head sources
• Rated speed: The speed at which a device, apparatus, conveyance, elevator, etc., is designed to operate in the upward direction with the rated load
• Reaction turbine: A turbine in which a fluid acts both by its kinetic energy and by its pressure
• Runaway speed: Turbine's/generator's speed at full flow, and no shaft load
• Runner: Moving part of a turbine where water power is transformed into the rotational force that drives the generator
• Speed governor: A device which adjusts the intake valves of the turbine in order to maintain the speed of rotation at a required value
• Turbine: A machine for generating rotary mechanical power from the energy of a stream of fluid (such as water, steam, or hot gas), by converting the kinetic energy of fluids to mechanical energy through the principles of impulse and reaction, or a mixture of the two

Hydropower Investment in Indonesia - Post Ministerial Decree 05/09

Indonesia has huge hydropower potential. The potential is approximately 75 GW and less than 4% is now being utilized. Energy demand is rising all the time and according to the recent PLN’s plan (2009-2018) the annual energy demand will rise at 9.7% rate. This means PLN has to provide more generation capacity especially for Java Bali System. Combining only those two factors, it is obvious that there is a big chance for power generation investment in Indonesia.

In their 2009-2018 planning, PLN is suppose to build 70 MW mini hydropower plant ( capacity up to 10 MW) and 3835 MW big hydropower plant (capacity more than 10 MW). The schemes are expected to start operation in 2010 the soonest. IPP is also expected to build 122 MW of mini hydropower plant and 905 MW of big hydropower plant. Those hydropower plants are part of the 10.000 MW crash program 2nd phase. Based on this, there is still huge opportunity for private sector to invest in hydropower generation. Not just that, under the current policy regime, PLN is obliged to buy power from any renewable energy generators (hydro, solar, geothermal, biomass). This means any hydropower scheme development is welcomed.

The question is then “how warm is the welcoming party?” for those investors. I consider a fast easy PPA procedure as a warm welcoming party. The new regulation (ministerial decree 05/2009) should be able to warm up the party. Government has no “core” role in the price negotiation. The least cost based price was left out because the government is not capable of providing the benchmark price to the players in time. The new regulation gives PLN a freedom to negotiate the price. For some this is considered as good progress, but for some others there is still something not right.

What’s not right? After all those regulations in place but nothing happened, the new regulation should be better because it is based on lessons learned, shouldn’t it? New regulation obliged PLN to prepare its own version of investment model for the particular negotiated scheme. For example I am going to invest on a 5 MW hydropower scheme in Sumatera. The cost of investment (considering specific power selling price, IRR and other financial factors) is X billion IDR. For the same site, PLN has to come up with its own investment model and come up with its own cost of investment. Based on the two investment models, PLN is then negotiating the cost of each cost components that eventually will take time. The new regulation might not cut short the time for PPA at all and I think this kind of thing is not a “warm welcome” for new investors especially in hydropower.

What should be improved to make it warmer? PLN is better to prepare fix investment models with adjustable cost components. Those models should be then communicated to all potential investors. Speaking the same language is surely making communication easier and faster. The models should incorporate all inputs from developers/investors so that all possible disputes on the models can be avoided. The process of decentralizing decision making in PLN has to be implemented fast. Price cap that PLN has introduced internally should be publicly disclosed so that potential investors can early calculate the attractiveness of one project.

Indonesia needs energy supply fast and renewable energy can do that. This means investment climate has to be better. The new regulation try to improve the investment climate, but instead of making it better, some still see some problematic arrangements in the regulation. Improvement is still needed and this might be PLN’s turn to work.

Micro Hydro Terminologies - Second Batch

Same sources plus some sources that I already forgot.

Classification

• High Head System: A hydroelectric power plant having head higher than 300 meters
• Low Head System: A hydroelectric power plant having head up to 30 meters
• Medium Head System: A hydroelectric power plant having head up to 300 meters
• Micro Hydropower: A hydroelectric power generation up to 100 kW
• Mini Hydropower: A hydroelectric power generation up to 1000 kW
• Off Grid: A hydroelectric power plant that does not operate in interconnected mode
• On Grid: A hydroelectric power plant that operates in interconnected mode
• Pico Hydropower: A hydroelectric power generation under 5 kW
• Run of River: A hydroelectric power station which uses the river flow as it occurs, the filling period of its own reservoir by the cumulative water flows being practically
  
• Small Hydropower: A hydroelectric power generation up to 10 MW

Site Identification

• Catchment area: An extent of land where water from rain or snow melt drains downhill into a body of water, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea or ocean
• Discharge (flow): Volume of water that passes a given point within a given period of time.
• Flood: An overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land
• Flow duration curve: A plot that shows the percentage of time that flow in a stream is likely to equal or exceed some specified value of interest
• Gauging station: A particular site on a stream, canal, lake, or reservoir where systematic observations of hydrologic data are obtained.
• Head: The difference in number of feet between two water surface elevations. Height of water above a specified point.
• Slope: The slope is defined as the ratio of the altitude change to the horizontal distance between any two points on the line
• Topography: Physical shape of the ground surface in a geographic area.

Planning

• Bill of Quantity: a document itemizing the materials, parts, and labor (and their costs) required to construct, maintain, or repair a structure or device
• Cost estimate: Approximation of the probable total cost of a product, program, or project, computed on the basis of available information
• Load Forecast: An estimate of the expected load of a network at a given future date
• Design flow: Is the flow at which the turbine operates at highest energy conversion efficiency
• Plant Gradient: Ratio between length of overall water conveyance system and head
• Energy Unit Cost: The cost to generate per unit of energy. Usually has cost/kWh unit (e.g. x US$/kWh)
• Feasibility Study: An exercise that involves documenting each of the potential solutions to a particular business problem or opportunity.
• Financial Analysis: an assessment of the viability, stability and profitability of a business, sub-business or project.
• Payback Period: the period of time required for the return on an investment to "repay" the sum of the original investment
• Internal Rate of Return: The interest rate received for an investment consisting of payments and income that occur at regular periods
• Net Present Value: the total present value (PV) of a time series of cash flows
• Discount rate: An interest rate a central bank charges depository institutions that borrow reserves from it. Discount rate is always compared to IRR to value an investment

Micro Hydro Terminologies - First Batch

I have been trying to find and collect some important terminologies of micro hydro power. The sources of the definitions are Wikipedia, International Electrotechnical Commission, Manitoba Hydro and some coming from internal sources. The list is not covering all detail technical terms (e.g. detail definition of a generator or a turbine). The list will only covers very general that newbies will find it easy to understand more about micro hydro power. The first batch will contain only terminologies that I categorized into "general".

• AC Alternating Current: An electrical system fed by alternating voltage
• Benefit-cost ratio: The ratio of the present value of project benefits to the present value of the project costs, used in economic analysis.
• Bidding: An offer (often competitive) of setting a price one is willing to pay for something
  
• Black start facility: Internal facility to restore a power station to operation without relying on external energy sources
• Community participation: Involvement of people in a community in projects to solve their own problems
• Contour line: In cartography, a contour line (often just called a "contour") joins points of equal elevation (height) above a given level, such as mean sea level
• Earthing system: An arrangement of connections and devices necessary to earth equipment or a system separately or jointly
• Efficiency: Energy conversion efficiency is the ratio between the useful output of an energy conversion machine and the input, in energy terms
• Feed in tariff: An incentive structure to encourage the adoption of renewable energy through government legislation. The regional or national electricity utilities are obligated to buy renewable electricity (electricity generated from renewable sources such as solar photovoltaic, wind power, biomass, hydropower and geothermal power) at above market rates set by the government
• Frequency: Frequency is the rate or number of times a bar magnet rotates a full 360 degrees inside a coil, during one second. Most people just say 60 cycles, and the "each second" is understood. AC current is generated at 60 cycles in North America and 50 cycles in most of the rest of the world. The term 60 cycles is usually shortened even further and referred to as 60 Hertz. Utilities accurately control AC power production to this 60-Hertz value, since it is the basis of operation for many devices, especially clocks
  
• Hydroelectric installation: An ordered arrangement of civil engineering structures, machinery and plant designed chiefly to convert the gravitational potential energy of water into electricity
  
• Hydroelectric plant: A power plant that produces electricity from the power of rushing water turning turbine-generators.
• Hydroelectric power station: A power station in which the gravitational energy of water is converted into electricity
• Hydroelectric set: A generating set consisting of a hydraulic turbine mechanically connected to an electrical generator
• Hydrologic cycle: The natural recycling process powered by the sun that causes water to evaporate into the atmosphere, condense and return to earth as precipitation.
• Interconnected operation: The operation of two or more networks interconnected by links (for example: lines, transformers, d.c. links) enabling the mutual exchange of electrical energy
  
• Kilowatt (kW): An electrical unit of work or power equal to 1000 Watts
• Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): Basic unit of electric energy equal to one kilowatt of power applied over one hour. A unit energy equivalent to one thousand watthours
• Megawatt (MW): One million watts of electrical power
• Megawatt-hour (MWh): One million watt-hours of electrical energy
• Neutral: The designation of any conductor, terminal or any element connected to the neutral point of a poly phase system
• Nominal voltage of a system: A suitable approximate value of voltage used to designate or identify a system
• Phase: The designation of any conductor, bundle of conductors, terminal, winding or any other element of a polyphase system, which is intended to be energized under normal use
  
• Power factor (cos phi): The ratio of the real power flowing to the load to the apparent power, and is a number between 0 and 1 (frequently expressed as a percentage, e.g. 0.5 pf = 50% pf). The power factor is equal to cos phi)
  
• Power purchase agreement: A legal contract between an electricity generator (commonly a utility company) and a host site owner or lessor. The host site owner or lessor purchases energy or capacity (power or ancillary services) from the PPA Provider (the electricity generator)

Hydro Glossary - Under Development

I believe that to understand a subject, one also has to speak the language. This means, when somebody wants to understand hydroelectric/hydropower, he or she has to know general important terms of hydroelectric. Because of that, my personal project now is putting all the important (at least from my point of view) terms in one big list. For that I rely on the Internet.

I was looking for a website or websites that contains important hydropower or hydroelectric glossary of terms. I did find an interesting one from Canada. It has approximately 200 hydro related terms and they are covering general terms from many different aspects of hydro power (e.g. civil structure, mechanical electrical, hydrology etc.). This website (http://www.hydro.mb.ca) provides easy to understand definitions of each term so that a novice in hydroelectricity can understand the terms relatively easy.

However, I need more than those provided by the Canadians. I searched the Internet and found a web page of IEC. It is called Electropedia. It does not discuss exclusively hydroelectric but there are some general terms (i.e. generation, distribution) that are closely related to hydroelectric. I believe that when it comes from IEC, the definitions are acceptable by all experts. In search for a complete hydroelectric glossary of terms, I use some definitions from Electropedia.

Beside those two websites, I use the help of Wikipedia. Most of the time, Wiki can provide me exact definition of any term typed. However, there are times that I have to conclude or take a part of the explanation in order to define one specific term.

The list is still growing and I plan to add pictures of related definitions. When I am done with it, I am going to upload it to the Internet. Hope it's useful.

Better Regulation - Which Level Should It be?

Last week I joined a discussion about micro hydro quality standard. We were discussing mainly the content of the draft. Manufacturers and developers were attending the meeting. Regulators, standardization expert and also micro hydro financiers (i.e. the government) also attended the meeting.

The meeting was good. People were active in giving inputs and the draft it self is actually in the right direction. During one of the breaks, we were talking about the legal setting for the standard. In Indonesia we have SNI (Standard Nasional Indonesia - Indonesian National Standard) that mainly regulates industry and in electricity sector we also have PLN standard (the standard that is issued by national utility). In our mind standard of PLN is obligatory for any PLN projects but not obligatory to electricity projects initiated by other institution. This might be true and anyway we have to find out.

The draft micro hydro standard is not yet ready to be SNI. SNI standardization process usually takes approximately 2 years and the draft has just been drafted in the last 3 months. It is already half baked or cooked actually therefore it is ready to be implemented. The problem is which legal setting should be used? Should it use Ministerial Decree or should it use higher legal setting (e.g. joint ministerial decree).

Ministerial Decree will only valid for internal only and this will just make the overall impact of the draft standard lower. So far, it is not only Ministry of Energy that implement micro hydro projects. There are also Ministry of Cooperative and Ministry of Underprivileged Areas (MUA) that also implement micro hydro projects. As far as my observation, projects implemented by MUA are not of high quality. If the standard can also cover those two other ministries, I expect better project from MUA also.

If the standard is becoming SNI then it will be obligatory for all. However because it is not yet ready a joint ministerial decree. I believe there is still a long way to go for the standard to become an SNI. Joint Ministerial Decree will be a proper setting for now. Hope DGEEU can bring this issue to higher level, if sustainability of micro hydro is the overall goal. Let's hope.

And the Winner is.....

Receiving 1st Prize from pak Bayu, Deputy Coordinating Minister of Social Welfare (photo: MHPP - GTZ)

Thursday 13th of November will be the most memorable day for pak Linggih. Pak Linggih is the Major of Batang Uru village in West Sulawesi Province. Beside his Major duties, he also has a turbine workshop. His dedication for rural electrification is uncomparable. He works alot and does not speak much. He does it not just speaks about it. He is a true leader. The Kecamatan Development Project (KDP - Now is named PNMP) has involved him in many micro hydro projects. The projects under his supervision is undeniably very succesful.

Rural Electrification in Batang Uru, look at the wooden poles (Photo: DGEEU - Ministry of Energy GOI)

Enough with background info. On 13th of November pak Linggih and especially Batang Uru Village has won the first prize of Desa Mandiri Energy (DME) Competition 2008. Desa Mandiri Energi or Energy Self Sufficient Villages is defined as a village that can supply its own energy need (at least 60%) with local resources. Community participation is very important in DME and in Batang Uru community participation is number one. There are some supports from KDP but people put their efforts and money more than KDP's. This can be a serious sign of sustainability (especially social aspect). I hope government projects are done in this manner (although not all are as successful as pak Linggih's).

Pak Linggih's Workshop (Photo: DGEEU - Ministry of Energy GOI)

Anyway, congratulation to Pak Linggih and especially to KDP staffs in West Sulawesi. This is a sign of good integrated work between many institutions.

Unique Characteristics of Rural Electrification in Teres Genit

Teres Genit is a village in Northern Lombok Island, in Bayan Sub-District. It is located approximately 90 kilometers from Mataram. The village has a 36 kW micro hydro power that just started operation 5 months ago. There are some unique characteristics of micro hydro implementation in this village, for example:

• Cluster metering
• Turbine flow control for a small capacity micro hydro
• Significant productive use load.

Cluster metering is a unique solution for rural electrification. Common implementation in Indonesia is using miniature circuit breaker (MCB). MCB that is commonly used has limiting value of 0.5 Ampere. MCB with such small limiting value is very rare in Indonesia. Usually the sensitivity of very small MCB is quite bad. High demand of small value MCBs for rural electrification has made some people make fake “small value MCB”. Outside it is written as 0.5 Amp MCB but in reality current more than 0.5 Ampere cannot make the MCB to trip. When those fake MCBs are used, one can expect uncontrolled use of electricity that eventually jeopardizes the fate of micro hydro.

Cluster metering or cluster connection uses normal MCBs (i.e. 2 Amps MCB from well known manufacturer) to connect two or more customers. Usually my project recommends to connect 4 houses for one 2 Amps MCB. That means, if the load is even, each house has the right of 0.5 Amp load. Cluster metering uses kWh meter in addition to normal size MCB. In Teres Genit, one kWh meter is normally used for 4 houses. In Lombok, Teres Genit is the third site utilizing this kind of approach. So far, I found this kind of approach in Aceh.

Flow control is usually not implemented for micro scale hydro power. Teres Genit micro hydro might be the smallest that utilize flow control. Normal implementation of rural electrification with micro hydro usually utilizes Electronic Load Controller (ELC) or even the simpler Induction Generator Controller (IGC). I personally in the opinion that flow control in Teres Genit is a bit too much. Flow control system works by adjusting the opening of guide vane. When the demand is high, the control will tell the guide vane to open more and vice versa. ELC is enough for Teres Genit.

Productive Use, I define it as any activities that produce products. Small shops that use electricity do not fit to the definition. In Teres Genit, there are many options of productive use. The one that is ready is Lombok Salmon production. The industry uses cooling to keep the fish fresh after being smoked. My recent visit to Teres Genit is to install distribution line to this particular place. This effort needs the help of a small boy to climb the poles.

Anyone can visit Teres Genit. Just googling and write “Teras Genit” you will find how to get there.