INGENIEUR
INGENIEUR
solar PV-diesel hybrid system for 160 schools in rural Sabah.
This article presents a study that has been conducted on an REP installed in rural schools in Sabah, Malaysia. The objectives are to provide insight and information about the REP implementation in Malaysia, explain Jabatan Kerja Raya’ s contributions in implementing the REP and analyse the challenges in achieving reliable electricity services and a sustainable programme from solar PV system technology.
REVIEW OF MALAYSIA’ S REPS
Infrastructure and human capital are two basic requirements that can improve the quality of life, at a socio-cultural and socio-economic level, of rural communities. Services such as road access, clean water supply and electricity will certainly effect economic growth and quality of life, as well as transform rural communities in the direction of modernisation. In the past 10 years, the Government of Malaysia( GoM) has allocated RM41.08 billion for rural development, of which RM14.47 billion was used to improve electricity and clean water services.
REP using renewable energy system technology was also part of the initiatives carried out by the GoM to support its policies in this area. The first renewable energy system – using a decentralised stand-alone solar PV system- was implemented in the 1980s by an electricity utility company [ 5 ]. In 1995, two pilot REPs, of 10 kWp and 100 kWp respectively, were implemented in Sabah. The projects were supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation( NEDO) of Japan [ 6 ]. In 1996, the Rural Electricity Supply Programme( RESP), using a solar home system( SHS), was implemented in 10,000 homes. Presently, the RESP is implemented either by extending the electricity grid line to villages or, in cases where the locations are very remote, by using a solar PV hybrid system, a solar PV standalone system, generator sets, and / or a mini or micro hydroelectric and wind energy generator.
In 1998, a trust fund called the Malaysia Electricity Supply Industry Trust Account( MESITA) was introduced. The fund provides financial assistance to the RESP, as well as to energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes. The fund was in part created by Independent Power Producers( IPPs) and Malaysian utility companies. The fund is made up of a 1 % contribution of all electricity utility companies’ annual audited revenue. To date, almost 60 % of the fund has been spent on the RESP 1 [ 7 ].
Jabatan Kerja Raya involvement in solar photovoltaic system technology
Jabatan Kerja Raya( JKR) has made tremendous contributions to the implementation of the REPs by giving support and consultation to the GoM in executing the project. Its main tasks include system design, advising in the procurement process, and supervision during the installation and warranty period. JKR involvement started in the year 2004 where Cawangan Kejuruteraan Elektrik( CKE) was given the responsibility by the Kementerian Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi( KTAK) to implement a 1 kWp stand-alone solar PV system for 114 rural Information and Communication Technology( ICT) centres( Figure 1). In 2006, JKR was involved in another KTAK project which was to build 5 kWp stand-alone solar PV systems for 260 school computer labs( Figure 2). Later in 2008, the Ministry of Education( MOE) appointed JKR to manage their rural school electrification project in Sabah using a solar PV hybrid system. The project was divided into two phases. The first phase involved 78 schools( Figure 3) while 84 schools were installed with the system in the later phase( Figure 4). The school electrification programme is on-going in 2017 for another 369 schools in Sarawak and shall be completed in 2019. JKR’ s continued involvement in the solar PV system project for rural areas is testimony to JKR’ s expertise in renewable energy technology.
The JKR project team faced challenges and risks during the implementation in terms of hardship and difficulties to access the school due to poor road conditions, natural disasters like landslides and floods especially during the rainy season as shown in Figure 5. No matter what difficulties were encountered by the team,
1 Presently, there are two major REPs in Malaysia. The RESP is implemented by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development and focuses on electrifying rural communities. The solar PV-diesel hybrid project for rural schools is implemented by the Ministry of Education.
52 VOL 71 JULY- SEPTEMBER 2017