Presentation By:

Bhupendra Shakya, Renewable Energy Expert, AEPC/RERL

(Focal person Baglung Mini Grid Project)

Sanjay Kumar Sharma, Programme Officer, AEPC/NRREP

Mini Grid: A step ahead in MH sector,

experience from Baglung Mini Grid pilot

project

1

Contents

• Background

• Why Mini Grid?

• What is Mini Grid?

• Mini Grid Pilot Project in Baglung

• Technical aspects of Mini Grid Project

2

Background

Rural Electrification (only to 48.5% of total population )

– Grid extension-Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA)

– Off-grid - Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC)

Major problem faced by Micro Hydro (MH)- low load factor

Lack of integrated plan

Grid expansion has created great threat to MHPs

11%

9%

18%

17%

45%

Distance between MHP and NEA grid

Connected

0 to 2 km

2 to 5 km

5 to 10 km

>10 km

Source: RERL data collection from 10 programme districts

3

Background

NEA being sole grid operator shown unwillingness to connect MHP into Grid because

– Plants less than 100 kW shall not be connected

– Most of the MHPs have induction type generator

– Small plant will create technical and managerial problem

“Many efforts are made to

connect MHP into national grid

but has not been success till now”

“Connection of the Micro Hydro into the grid may create the Win-Win

situation”

4

Why Mini Grid? “Connection of many MHPs in periphery through local

grid to form Mini Grid may be the best option to provide quality electricity as well as to address the problem raised by NEA”

• Optimization of Electricity Generation

• Achievement of System Sustainability o To develop micro hydro grid as the independent & permanent source of electrical energy o To discard the possibility of extinction of Micro hydro after the availability of national grid

• Mini Grid is the local grid that connects more than two MHPs (generators) to operate in parallel mode and sharing the load in equal proportion of its capacity

_MiniGrid_Anim_\MiniGrid_Benifits_720p.mp4

5

Piloting Mini Grid in Urja Upatyaka (Energy Valley)

Urja Upatyaka

6 MHPs from same river

Kalung Khola

6

Pre feasibility in 2006, DFS 2007

Number of MHPs: Six (6)

Total Power Capacity: 107 kW

Ownership: Community (Co-operative)

8 Km long 3 phase 11KV transmission line is established for

the power transfer

Microprocessor based ELC with Grid synchronizable Control

panel is the core technology for the synchronization

Households Beneficiary: 1200 from 4 VDCs

Project running successfully from July 2011

End Uses: 52

DFS for grid interconnection is already carried out

7

Salient Features of Pilot Mini Grid Project

Mini Grid Site

8

600 m

Mini Grid System

9

Management Model

Urja Upatyaka Mini Grid Cooperative (UUMGC) Limited (Reg no:554/2011) established for the proper operation & management of Mini Grid as a Cooperative

Complex managerial structure, 11 Members executive committee with participation from all 6 MHPs

UUMG Cooperative is responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity

6 individual MHPs function as Independent Power Producers (IPPs) sale electricity to UUMG Cooperative under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) (buying NPR 4.5/unit and selling 6.25-7/unit)

10

Financial status

Total Project Cost of Mini Grid: NRs. 14,500,000.00 (USD 200,000.00) (USD 1,515/kW, USD 312/kW-Plant)

Supported by UNDP/RERL & Community

2%

86%

5% 4%

1%

2%

Detail Feasibility Study Electro Mechanical Equipment Cost Human Resource Cost Institutional Cost Capacity Building

Cost breakdown of the project

38%

16%

16%

5%

20%

1% 0%

4%

Electromechanical cost-12,000,000

Control Panel (Ytek Controls Transformer(NEEK) Steel Pole (Hulas) ACSR Conductor (Nepal Wire & Cable) Line Materials(PIS,DCEM,Sipradi) Transportation and Custom Clearance

11

Technical : – Quality of electricity (Voltage and Frequency) improved – Increase availability and reliability – Easier starting motor and bigger load – Better safety & protection – Plant factor increased to double

Financial: – Increment of MHPs income by 20 to 60% – Income of Entrepreneurs by 5 to 30%

Social: – Behavioral change in electricity use – Reduction in misuse of electricity – Sense of unity among community

Advantages

12

Issues

Sustainability of the system

–Management of grid by community

–Human resource for Repair and Maintenance

– Installation of end-uses

– Load Management

Grid connection

13

Conclusion and Way forward

Mini Grid is found to be technically feasible and financially depends on different factors

If grid is nearby-Mini Grid provide sizeable capacity to connect and discard the possibility of extinction of Micro hydro, So need to formulate policy and strategy

Mini Grid could be the permanent source of electricity supply in areas where national grid is far away

Local community are capable to operate and manage the complex Mini Grid system

Capacity building and coordination, understanding among community is major step for sustainable operation

Baglung Mini Grid is becoming a research place and has built confidence for replication

14

Technical Aspect of Mini Grid

15

MINI GRID SYSTEM REQUIREMENT

GOVERNING SYSTEM

EXCITATION SYSTEM

PROTECTION SYSTEM

METERING

SWITCHGEAR

16

GOVERNING SYSTEM

HYDROMECHANICAL GOVERNOR

ELECTROMECHANICAL GOVERNOR

ELC (ELECTRONIC LOAD CONTROLLER)

17

ELC as Governor

18

ELC SCHEMATIC

19

WHY 6 CHANNEL ELC?

REDUCED HARMONICS FOR STABLE ON GRID SYSTEM

20

ELC SPEED DROOP

21

ELC WORKING IN PARALLEL

22

FUTURE INTERCONNECTION WITH NATIONAL GRID

23

GENERATOR EXCITATION SYSTEM

AVR(AUTOMATIC VOLTAGE REGULATOR) for voltage control and for parallel operation

APFR(AUTOMATIC POWER FACTOR REGULATOR) to be used

for National Grid Connection

24

PROTECTION SCHEME

OVER CURRENT RELAY (51)

VOLTAGE RESTRAINT OVER CURRENT RELAY (51V)

EARTH FAULT RELAY

UNDER/OVER VOLTAGE RELAY

UNDER/OVER FREQUENCY RELAY

PHASE SEQUENCE RELAY

CHECK SYNCHRONISING RELAY

REVERSE POWER RELAY

25

METERING & DISPLAY

VOLTMETER W/ SELECTOR SW

AMETER W/ SELECTOR SW

FREQUENCY METER

kW METER

kVAR METER

POWER FACTOR METER

ELC MONITOR OR LOAD METER

ANNUNCIATOR

26

SWITCH GEAR

MCCB (MOULDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKERS)

POWER CONTACTORS

27

TYPICAL SINGLE LINE DIAGRAM

28

Inside View of PLC based control panel with protection relays and Microcontroller based Grid Synchronous ELC 29

Inside View of AVR,APFR,SWGR cum feeder panel

30

Grid Synchronous ELC Panel Board in operation together with Ballast Load,

31

Thank You! For further contact:

Alternative Energy Promotion Centre

bhupendra.shakya@rerl.org.np

sanjay.sharma@aepc.gov.np

32