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the flow

TONIBUNG: 2022 HIGHLIGHTS AND A STRONG START IN 2023

1/19/2023

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In 2022, HPNET member TONIBUNG (Friends for Village Development) continued to advance an ambitious array of initiatives to generate impact from community-based renewable energy, both at the policy level and on the ground in partnership with Indigenous communities in Malaysian Borneo.  Two key developments from 2022 are highlighted below, along with an exciting update from January 2023 regarding a first-of-its-kind international knowledge exchange event.

For more exciting updates, be sure to ‘like’ and ‘follow’ TONIBUNG’s very active facebook page.

Sabah RE2 Consortium
Since August 2021, TONIBUNG has been part of the Sabah Renewable Energy Rural Electrification Roadmap (Sabah RE2) Consortium in collaboration with Forever Sabah, Pacos Trust and Green Empowerment.  Supported by the Malaysia-UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) programme, the Sabah RE2 initiative aims to build momentum towards “a future of energy equity, right livelihoods, and wellbeing for rural Sabahans” by advocating for renewable energy as a viable solution for energy access in off-grid communities.  

TONIBUNG’s primary role has been to lead stakeholder training and conduct feasibility studies of potential mini-grid design concepts.  Thus far, the team has conducted feasibility studies in 57 communities for 35 potential mini-grids across Sabah, the findings of which are summarized here.


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Map displaying feasibility studies conducted by TONIBUNG for the SabahRE2 initiative, including for micro hydro, solar and solar-hydro hybrid mini-grids. Credit: SabahRE2.
The Sabah RE2 Consortium has produced a number of rich outputs, including an interactive Demand Map for unelectrified villages in Sabah and other multimedia knowledge products, which can be accessed at sabahre2roadmap.org.

Micro Hydro Training in Bandung, Indonesia

To advance knowledge exchange objectives of the Sabah RE2 initiative, Tonibung engineers and technicians traveled to Bandung, Indonesia for micro hydro development training hosted by Heska Hydro in November, 2022.  HPNET members Pak Komarudin (Protel Multi Energy) and Pak Aji Subekti (Reneconsys) facilitated training on electronic load controllers and mini-grid design fundamentals.  As part of the training, the team also visited two micro hydro sites to enhance their understanding of civil design and to learn about operations and maintenance.  The exposure visits further strengthened the participants’ understanding of the theoretical teachings from the classroom sessions at Heska Hydro.

Inter Learning Exchange on Community-Led Renewable Energy

From January 8-11, 2023, participants from Kenya, Nepal, Cambodia and the Philippines gathered in Kampung Buayan, Ulu Papar, Sabah for the Inter Learning Exchange on Community-led Renewable Energy, co-hosted by TONIBUNG and Right Energy Partnership (REP). 


Participants shared knowledge from their own in-country experiences and learned from the pioneering work of TONIBUNG on implementing community-based micro hydropower in partnership with Indigenous communities.  The participants learned how the community of Kampung Buayan operates and maintains their community hydro mini-grid through a sustainable approach, leveraging capacity building efforts by TONIBUNG and other local partners.  The guests also saw first-hand how the community hydro has generated socioeconomic opportunities, including by enabling motorized agro-processing and allowing children to study at night, among other outcomes.


We extend our thanks to TONIBUNG Founder and HPNET Board Member, Hon. Adrian Banie Lasimbang, for his input on this blog post.  To learn more, contact TONIBUNG at [email protected]. 

This article was developed by HPNET Thematic Coordinator, Lara Powell.

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INDIA-INDONESIA PARTNERSHIP:  PICO HYDRO DEVELOPMENT IN MEGHALAYA

1/16/2023

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Meghalaya is one of India’s eight states making up the country's rich bio- and ethnically-diverse northeastern region.  Since 2013 HPNET members have worked to advance community-scale hydro in Meghalaya for last-mile energy access:

  • In 2013, International Rivers and the Nagaland Empowerment of People thru EnergyDevelopment (NEPeD) hosted a micro hydro exchange event focusing on NE India, which connected HPNET to the Meghalaya Basin Development Agency (MBDA).
  • In 2015, HPNET enabled India practitioners to attend HPNET’s Members Gathering held in Indonesia at the Hydropower Competence Center (HYCOM), connecting them to Pt entec Indonesia.
  • In 2016, MBDA and HPNET held a regional exchange in Meghalaya, with VillageRES and PT entec Indonesia as co-facilitators.
  • In mid-2019, International Rivers and partners, including HPNET, hosted a tri-country dialogue in Meghalaya, with CSOs and local practitioners from Nepal, Myanmar, and India.
  • In late 2019, HPNET supported a reconnaissance field visit to understand field-based challenges to pico hydro scale up in NE India.
  • In 2021, HPNET and International Rivers held a three-part virtual exchange focusing on  Ganges, Brahmaputra, Meghna, and Salween (GBMS) Rivers, providing regional inspiration from across S/SE Asia and customized capacity building.  
  • The 2021 event included a special keynote by Mr. Augustus Suting, Special Officer at MBDA.
In between each of these milestones have been strategy dialogue among members. As such, when MBDA released a tender to accelerate pico hydro for rural electrification, HPNET members already had working relationships and a keen understanding of challenges and key solutions to leverage the opportunity.
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Below Mr. Ramasubramanian Vaidhyanathan (“Rams”), who has long been committed to the sub-region, provides a brief and exciting update on the most recent technical developments brought forth by a partnership between HPNET members VillageRES and Pt entec Indonesia.

To date an estimated 1000 villages remain unelectrified in the northeastern state of Meghalaya in India, out of approximately 6000 villages.  In 2022, MBDA identified about 200+ micro hydro sites for implementation located throughout the state in communities of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo ethnic tribes.  The identified potential for most of the sites was 3 kW.  A few had a much higher potential but for this tender, projects were limited to 5 kW.

VillageRES (Village Renewable Energy Systems India Private limited) participated in the tender in partnership with EMSYS Electronics Private limited, a solar energy company based in Bangalore. The consortium was awarded 45 sites located throughout Meghalaya.   
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VillageRES entered into a manufacturing license agreement with PT entec Indonesia to manufacture their new cross flow turbine design with 150mm diameter runners. The turbine is called CFT 150/21.

The fabrication began in July 2022.  Pt entec Director, Mr. Gerhard Fischer, and the team helped us a lot with fabricating the first few pieces – updating drawings, dimensions, a few design corrections, etc. We fabricated the units in the south Indian industrial hub of Coimbatore, in the state of Tamil Nadu. 
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We are very pleased with the results: the turbines have come out very well made and were cost effective to fabricate. We also tested a few of the turbines at a site in Meghalaya and the performance was fantastic. We will be assessing the performance of this model more thoroughly once all the units are installed.
During the installation process, we found that many of the sites were situated right next to a waterfall and the penstock was installed at nearly a 90 degree angle without any proper support. While it was logical and easier to select sites that had an obvious sufficient head, other aspects, such as the design of the intake structure, penstock route, and penstock support appeared to have been completely overlooked. We realised that the on-site assessment methodology that we utilize in training has to be much more detailed and maybe periodically conducted to continue to build the capacity of the sector’s local personnel. Unless this is carried out, the project sites are prone to failure within a year or two of the installation.

This guest blog post was written by Mr. Ramasubramanian Vaidhyanathan (“Rams”), Director of VillageRES and HPNET Board of Representative Member for India.  
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He can be reached at ​​[email protected]. 
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PHILIPPINES:  SIBAT YEAR-IN-PHOTOS, 2022

1/12/2023

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For nearly four decades, SIBAT (Sibol Ng Agham At Teknolohiya)  has supported sustainable rural development throughout the Philippines, including through the advancement of community-based renewable energy solutions.  SIBAT has always championed a highly collaborative approach prioritizing community involvement and leadership at every stage of the micro hydro project lifecycle, from project initiation to completion and beyond.  The following provides a glimpse into some of SIBAT’s micro hydro endeavours from 2022 with communities in the Cordillera region of Luzon. 

System Upgrade in Brgy. Mataragan, Malibcong, Abra

In January 2021, SIBAT began working with the community of Brgy. Mataragan, Malibcong, Abra to install a new micro hydropower system (MHP). This new system will be an alternate system for their existing system during summer.  The pre-existing and new system have the same source and forebay but have different penstocks and powerhouses. The old system has a higher head but cannot accommodate their needs for irrigation during Summer, since its tailrace goes directly to the river. On the other hand, the new system has a smaller head but can accommodate the community’s needs for irrigation since the tailrace will be connected to their irrigation system. The old system’s capacity is 25kW while the new system can only produce up to 15kW.  The project is nearing completion following unforeseen delays in 2022.
Crossflow Turbine Fabrication - Sitio Saltan Brgy. Balbalasang

SIBAT has also been supporting an ongoing project to install a new micro hydro system in Sitio Saltan Brgy. Balbalasang, Balbalan Kalinga.  A machinist at SIBAT completed the fabrication of the crossflow turbine for the new system at SIBAT's Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technology (CREATech).  The new system has a design power output of 15KW which will power the whole sitio (i.e. hamlet/territorial enclave).  It is hoped that the installation of a system separate from the Brgy. Balbalasang micro hydro will completely allow the communities to power their other appliances and machinery.
Operator’s Training - Apayao Cluster

From April 20-21, 2022, SIBAT ran an Operator’s Training in Apayao Province, in the Cordillera mountains of Northern Luzon.  As part of the training, 50 participants were grouped into small teams of 5 members each to disassemble and reassemble a crossflow turbine, in order to learn its components. They were guided by SIBAT staff.
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Disassembly and reassembly of crossflow turbine during the Operator’s Training in Apayao Cluster. (Credit: SIBAT)
​The 6-wheeler truck of the Katablangan Indigenous Farmer’s Association (KIFA) did not survive the challenges the road posed on the journey to Upper Katablangan, Conner, Apayao. Thus, SIBAT’s 4WD pickup truck helped to haul the materials. After the 15km travel (approximately two hours), materials needed to be transferred again since the materials can only be hauled by a motorcycle or by manually carrying them because of a narrow road. It took four round trips for SIBAT’s pickup truck to haul all the materials since it is not that big.
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Hauling of Materials to Upper Katablangan, Conner, Apayao via a 15km muddy road. (Credit: SIBAT)
Operator's Training - Kalinga Cluster

From October 20-21, 2022 SIBAT held another Operator’s Training in the Kalinga Province, which involved both theoretical and hands-on lessons to train local micro hydro operators on calibration and troubleshooting for synchronous alternators. 50 operators and officers attended the training from 10 different communities in Kalinga Province. 
​In addition, a separate workshop was conducted for the officers of the MHPs. The workshop was attended by officers with operating MHPs and non-operating MHPs. During the workshop, officers of non-operating MHPs shared the reasons why their systems shut down and indicated that they want to rehabilitate their MHPs to operate again. Officers of operating MHPs also shared what are the current issues and problems they are encountering in operating and maintaining the MHPs. Before the workshop was finished, the whole group formulated solutions to prevent shutdowns and solve the current and future issues that they might encounter.
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Separate workshop for the Officers of the MHPs, during the Local Operator’s Training – Kalinga Cluster. (Credit: SIBAT)
Rehabilitation of Brgy. Talalang, Balbalan, Kalinga Micro Hydro System

Finally, a success was celebrated in Brgy. Talalang, Balbalan, where the community’s MHP system was successfully rehabilitated. After 2 decades of frequent shutdowns and 8 hrs/ per day operation, the Talalang MHP system almost shutdown for good, but with the help of SIBAT, the system now operates for 24 hrs/day. 
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Inauguration of the successful rehabilitation of Brgy. Talalang, Balbalan, Kalinga MHP System. (Credit: SIBAT)

We extend our thanks to Mr. Shen Maglinte, Project Manager at SIBAT, for taking the time to share the photos and descriptions in this blog post.  Mr. Maglinte can be reached at [email protected]. 

The photos were contributed and collated by the SIBAT CBRES Team including Engr. Jeymart Erasquin, Engr. Benazir Gayyed, Engr. Dahlia Tineza,
Engr. Philip Rusland Taggaoa, Gengen Elvina, Jonel Baawa, Deo Espilita, Glendo Gayyed and Roelito Laron.

This article was developed by HPNET Thematic Coordinator, Lara Powell.
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NEPAL:  MINI HYDRO COMMISSIONING AND LOCAL CAPACITY BUILDING BY RERL-AEPC AND UNDP

5/30/2022

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Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihoods (RERL) is a joint project of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) of the Government of Nepal and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).  Last quarter, RERL made headway on multiple small-scale hydro projects, including the testing and commissioning of the Phawa Khola Mini Hydropower Project, and a mason training to develop local capacity.

Phawa Khola Mini Hydropower Project


In April 2022, RERL conducted power output testing for the 500 kW Phawa Khola MHP, located in Sirijangha Rural Municipality of Taplejung district, Nepal.  This project will provide electricity access to unelectrified households in the vicinity and the surplus energy shall be exported to the national grid through net metering provision.  RERL expert and HPNET member Jiwan Kumar Mallik shares more about the Phawa Khola Mini Hydro commissioning here. 


The project was developed under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) project of the Asia Development Bank (ADB), funded with subsidy, community equity and a loan from Machhapuchre Bank (MBL).  Upon completion of the SASEC project, a total of four mini hydro systems with a total capacity of 1.1 MW will be in operation.  

Mason Training
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To support local capacity development in the catchment area of the Saniveri Mini Hydro project, RERL organized a 15-day Mason Training in Saniveri Puttha Uttar Ganga, East Rukum, Nepal. The training also included 2 days of ‘On the Job’ vocational training facilitated by Baraha Institute of Engineering and Technology.  10 men and 5 women participated in the training and are expected to be engaged in construction of the MHP.
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Mason Training in Saniveri Puttha Uttar Ganga, East Rukum, Nepal. Credit: RERL.
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NEPAL:  HONORING SMALL-SCALE HYDRO PIONEER, MR. SHYAM RAJ PRADHAN

5/23/2022

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The small-scale hydro sector for energy access in Nepal has achieved immense success over the last fifty years, with over 3000 communities electrified using mostly localized technology.  Amidst new challenges and opportunities, policy, technology, and institutional solutions continue to emerge from Nepal’s long committed and experienced ecosystem of stakeholders.

Such a vibrant, living localized sector in Nepal has been made possible thanks to the pioneers who sacrificed professionally and personally to advance the sector as a whole.  One such early pioneer of micro and mini hydro development in Nepal is the late Mr. Shyam Raj Pradhan, the founder of Nepal Yantra Shala Energy (NYSE), now the leading small-scale hydro manufacturer and service provider in Nepal and in South Asia, serving the sector globally. ​
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Mr. Shyam Raj Pradhan at Balaju Yantra Shala. Credit: Video Biography of Shyram Raj Pradhan
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In the 1980s, Mr. Pradhan electrified remote communities in the foothills of the Nepali Himalayas. Credit: Credit: Video Biography of Shyram Raj Pradhan
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Projects areas of NYSE. Credit: Video Biography of Shyram Raj Pradhan
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Mr. Pradhan inspecting a Pelton runner. Credit: Credit: Video Biography of Shyram Raj Pradhan
To honor Mr. Pradhan’s legacy, NYSE has released a biography in the format of both a book and a video-biography capturing his inspiring journey to becoming a gifted engineer and leading social entrepreneur.  Among the highlights presented in the video-biography, using historic visuals from the years of 1937 until 2014, include:
  • Overcoming challenging socio-economic conditions in his youth [5:11]
  • Making the most of educational and other learning opportunities [7:14] 
  • Joining the Swiss Association for Technical Assistance (SATA) in 1958, and becoming the chief of engineering at Balaju Yantra Shala (BYS), one of the key enterprises that led to developing Nepal’s ecosystem of local experts [8:17]
  • Developing the earliest multi-use hydropower innovations, including in 1962 Nepal’s first micro hydro project installed to innovatively feed fish in the Godawari pond [10:59]
  • Excelling at BYS, leading to a 2-year opportunity in 1964 to learn advanced mini hydro and hydraulic ram pump technology in Switzerland, and return to Nepal committed long-term to small-scale hydro [11:48]
  • Finding his life partner, Mrs. Baba Pradhan, who played a vital role in developing NYSE while raising their two young children, as the family became fully committed to small-scale hydro [13:23]
  • Establishing his first manufacturing workshop, supplying hydropower and productive end use equipment for agri-processing, papermaking, and other rural industry [14:58]
  • Building the capacity of villagers and youth who wanted to learn hydropower design, and impact of the Agriculture Development Bank in scaling up installations [17:03]
  • Committing to high quality standards, including innovating different types and capacities of turbine designs to generate higher efficiencies [23:36]
  • Developing a legacy through his sons and the many persons he has trained to ensure Nepal was self-reliant in terms of small-scale hydropower knowhow [25:56]
Mr. Bikram Pradhan and Dr. Suman Raj Pradhan, sons of Mr. Shyam Raj Pradhan, held a launch ceremony for the biography in May 2022.  The event was attended by various experts of Nepal’s small-scale hydro sector, including:
  • Dr. Narayan Adhikari, Director of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC)
  • Dr. Govinda Pokhrel and Shree Krishna Updhaya, Ex Vice Chair-person and Ex Members of the National Planning Commission
  • Dr. Ram Prasad Dhital, Commissioner of the Nepal Electricity Regulatory Commission and former Executive Director of the AEPC
  • Mr. Vishwa Bhushan Amatya, small-scale hydro and energy access expert, and Board Member of the Hydro Empowerment Network (HPNET)
  • Surendra Mathema and other members of the Nepal Micro Hydro Development Association (NMHDA)
  • Dr. Prachanda Pradhan, the scholar individual who initiated the biography. ​​
Images and a video of the launch ceremony can be found here.  The event was also mentioned in this news article (in Nepali language).  The video-biography is accessible here:
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DOBRIYAL BROTHERS SHARES A SNAPSHOT OF COMMUNITY PRIDE

5/20/2022

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HPNET Member, thirty-five year old Aman Dobriyaal, based in the foothills of the Himalayas in India, taught himself how to manufacture pico hydro Crossflow turbines over a decade ago. Since then Aman has built and helped to install over 700 units for households and communities in remote corners of India, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.  

His local enterprise Dobriyal Brothers recently established a turbine manufacturing center, soon to include a pico hydro testing facility.  Aman seeks to advance their work and contribute experiences by engaging with HPNET’s SEEED Accelerator.  

Among the units he supplied this quarter is a 3kW system to electrify an Indigenous community near Rayagada, Chitragrah, supported by the local government.  Aman visited the site for a feasibility assessment and then guided the team remotely to install and test the system.  

He received this video of jubilee, which exemplifies the Indigenous pride that comes with localized approaches to community-scale hydro.

Check out the video!
For more information contact Aman Dobriyaal at [email protected] and at +91 95570 79907 by phone or WhatsApp.
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SELF-TAUGHT MALAWI MANUFACTURER RECEIVES TEVETA AWARD

5/16/2022

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Malawi-based small-scale hydro entrepreneur, Hastings Mkandawire, recently received an inaugural, prestigious award from the Technical, Entrepreneurial, Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA), called Ngwazi ya Lusu mu Malawi, translated as "The Most Skillful Person in Malawi".  A self-taught engineer, Hastings began manufacturing pico and micro hydro turbines from recycled materials to generate electricity in his village and neighboring communities.  

His first decade in the sector focused on pico hydro projects, developing over 100 units.  During this period he trained over 50 youth and facilitated the formation of a youth group, which went onto installing over 300 units.  Because rural Malawi is less than 5% electrified, the pico hydro units have brought immense benefits to the communities.

Nearing the start of his second decade in the sector, in 2014 Hastings was selected to take part in the Mandela Washington for Young African Leaders (YALI) fellowship program, after which point he established the turbine manufacturing social enterprise,  Mzuzu Institute of Technology and Innovation (MZITI) in 2015.  MZITI has enabled Hastings to spend the last decade focusing on upgrading his pico hydro fabrication skills to micro hydro manufacturing.  The MZITI facility has various metal fabrication equipment, including lathes, welding machines, cutters, etc.  At MZITI Hastings can now manufacture Crossflow and Pelton turbines for micro hydro capacities.  In addition, Hastings supports pico and micro hydro communities in establishing productive end uses, including manufacturing grain mills at MZITI.

With recent support from the Segal Family Foundation, MZITI now has a computer aided design (CAD) center, allowing Hastings to advance his manufacturing.  HPNET is collaborating with Hastings to find ways to develop higher efficiency micro hydro systems at MZITI, and to scale up its implementation to accelerate rural electrification in Malawi.

At the YALI Summit, then US President Barack Obama acknowledged Hastings’ work, saying: “​​In rural Malawi, he saw towns in darkness, without electricity. So now he gathers scrap metal, builds generators on his porch, takes them down to the stream for power, delivers electricity so farmers can irrigate their crops and children can study at night”.  
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Learn more about Hastings’ work in the links below -- keeping in mind that some of the videos are outdated and do not reflect Hastings current phase of development. :)  HPNET will soon feature Hastings in a StreamSide Chats edition -- stay tuned!

  • “YALI Fellow: Hastings Mkandawire Making Electricity” 
  • “Homemade” – a video featuring Hastings’ story
  • “Social Entrepreneur Spotlight: Hastings Mkandawire”
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PARTNERSHIPS:  MEGHALAYA AND NAGALAND, INDIA

4/25/2022

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The Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) in the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya has launched a pico hydro program, which includes demonstration sites in 11 districtures and the electrification of 300+ communities.

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The Nagaland Empowerment of People through Energy Development (NEPeD), an HPNET member based in the state of Nagaland, also in northeast India, has thus far provided 51 NEPeD pico hydro hydrogers for the initiative.  NEPeD is also providing operation and maintenance capacity building for 102 village-based persons (2 persons from each village).  Each unit will generate up to 3 kW for lighting and small appliances.

Since being established in 2007, NEPeD has been designing and manufacturing pico and micro hydro hydrogers in Dimapur, Nagaland, along with providing all onsite services, including installation, training, and productive end use integration. You can read more about NEPeD’s approach in our member profile here.
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Map of Northeast India showing Meghalaya in brown and Nagaland in blue. Source: www.mapsofindia.com.
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MEMBER PROFILE: PROTEL MULTI ENERGY, INDONESIA

12/19/2021

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​Public, non-government, and private sector actors each play important roles in the small-scale hydropower landscape.  We are often inspired by the tenacity of locally-rooted, private entrepreneurs who are unperturbed by the challenges that come with establishing and running a financially viable business that also serves rural communities.  In this guest blog post, we hear from Mr. Komarudin, an entrepreneur who wears many hats as a manufacturer, developer, technical consultant, and micro hydro champion in Bandung, Indonesia.  He introduces us to his business, Protel Multi Energy (PME), which has been supporting rural energy access for over a decade. 

​Protel Multi Energy (PME) was incorporated in early 2011 by Mr. Komarudin, an electrical engineer with a strong background in renewable energy, and a passion for small-scale hydropower, cultivated over 15 years. Previously, Mr. Komarudin worked with Entec AG, a Swiss consulting and engineering company specialized in small hydropower. Experienced with worldwide projects in technology transfer, he has provided assistance in developing countries, especially in crossflow turbine (T14/T15) and controller technology.
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Mr. Komarudin and the PME team. Credit: PME, 2021.
Protel Multi Energy focuses on the manufacturing of affordable Digital Electronic Load Controllers (ELCs), as well as micro hydro and pico hydro turbines (crossflow and Pelton) for rural electrification all over the world. Besides product manufacturing we also assist villagers and project owners in planning and designing micro hydro schemes. Sometimes we offer technical supervision on construction and installation. We are also able to do turnkey projects under certain circumstances.
Our ELCs are being used in more than 900 micro hydro sites in 5 continents and more than 30 countries worldwide, with a projected total installed capacity of about 10MW by the end of 2021. Our projects are mostly financed by donors, government agencies or the private sector, as off-grid renewable energy projects for rural development.
Nowadays, especially in Indonesia, we are developing many micro hydro projects through Dana Desa (village funds). We often provide support for each stage, starting from site survey, to planning and design, project supervision, supply of equipment and post-installation management. Due to their lack of knowledge and experience, we assist villagers to develop their project as their own responsibility, under our supervision to make sure it runs well with a sustainable approach and reliable equipment.
To learn more about PME and access many useful tutorial videos, visit our YouTube channel!
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PHILIPPINES:  FOLLOW SIBAT FOR INSIGHTS AND INSPIRATION

7/13/2021

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Since 1984, SIBAT has fostered a network of dedicated, local champions committed to advancing sustainable solutions in their communities. A country-wide Filipino people’s network, SIBAT supports renewable energy applications, sustainable agriculture techniques, and water access solutions.
SIBAT’s community-based, sustainable approach has enabled long-lasting energy access for many communities in Abra, Philippines. Last year, SIBAT upgraded the Barangay Dulao micro hydro system, which had been in operation for 25 years! Local capacity building is an important element of their sustainable approach, and is supported through training offered at SIBAT’s Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technology (CREATech) in Capas, Tarlac, Philippines. In fact, SIBAT takes part in knowledge sharing to build capacity across the region; for instance, in 2019, practitioners from Philippines and Malaysia gathered for a training session on Pelton micro hydro turbine fabrication, organized by SIBAT and HPNET.
To stay in the loop on SIBAT’s inspiring community-centred work, we encourage you to scroll through and ‘like’ SIBAT’s Facebook page. There you’ll find insightful updates on technical training for local community members, open source mini-grid management tools, videos featuring socio-economic impacts of energy access, and much more. Recently, SIBAT has shared updates on their efforts to distribute facemasks and supplies to vulnerable, indigenous communities. Be sure to ‘like’ SIBAT’s page to show your support and learn about their ongoing initiatives.
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Micro hydropower operation and maintenance training session in Tubo, Abra. Check out @sibatinc on Facebook to learn more. Credit: SIBAT
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Fabricating metal casing for the Pelton turbine for the Micro-Hydro Power system in Abra. Check out @sibatinc on Facebook to learn more. Credit: SIBAT
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SIBAT and Global Giving distributed facemasks and medicines for indigenous communities vulnerable to COVID-19. Check out @sibatinc on Facebook to learn more. Credit: SIBAT
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WATCH:  STREAMSIDE CHATS - EDITION 2, RESILIENT ENTERPRISE IN NEPAL

4/17/2021

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We’re excited to share the new edition of our video podcast series Streamside Chats!  The platform allows us to dialogue with experienced practitioners about their in-depth experiences in developing sustainable hydro mini-grids. It brings together grassroots innovators and international experts, providing firsthand insights from the field, framed within multi-thematic analysis. 
The 3-part edition called "Resilient Enterprise in Nepal" features two pioneers of Nepal's small-scale hydro context, revealing how its hydro mini-grid sector has scaled to over 3000 projects, created local manufacturing jobs, and strengthened rural livelihoods, even in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake.
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Barpak Village, Nepal. Credit: Hydro Concern Pvt. Ltd.

Intro to Speakers

Dipti Vaghela, the Manager of the Hydro Empowerment Network (HPNET), introduces the speakers, Bikash Pandey, Director of Clean Energy at Winrock International, and Bir Bahadur Ghale, Founder and Managing Director of Hydro Concern Pvt. Ltd. and provides an overview of the topic.  Both speakers are renown for their pioneering work of over 35 years.
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PART 1:  Start up and scale up of hydro mini-grids in Nepal

Dipti chats with Bikash about the key actors that paved the way for micro hydro development in Nepal and the stages through which the sector evolved over the past four decades.  The micro hydro sector is known to have its earliest roots in Nepal within the S/SE Asia region.  In this discussion, we delve into the pivotal reasons for which the country has one of the most dynamic micro hydro programs around the world.  Tune in to hear how multi-actor collaboration resulted in an ecosystem that scaled-up hydro mini grids, enabling energy access in over 3000 communities in rural Nepal. 
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PART 2:  Impact of a social enterprise approach

Bikash dialogues with Bir Bahadur, taking us on a journey of the renown Barpak hydro mini-grid, developed by Bir Bahadur Ghale in his home village 1991, when he was 24 years of age.  Being his first project and having no previous experience, he shares the obstacles he encountered and how he overcame them, including acquiring technical and financial skills to go onto developing hundreds of projects to date.  We also learn about the impact of the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Barpak, the epicenter of the disaster, the rehabilitation of the micro hydro project, and the critical role it played in rebuilding the village and its economy.  Established using a social enterprise approach, 30 years later the Barpak project is a prime example of a hydro mini-grid that is self-sustainable, providing electricity to over 1200 and many village-based enterprises. Bir Bahadur Ghale's approach has transformed the economic resilience of the community.
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PART 3:  Best practices for economic resilience

In this final part of the 3-part dialogue, we learn about Bir Bahadur Ghale's journey beyond Barpak, gaining insight on how energy access can be accelerated by proven developers.  The dialogue also discusses different types of ownership models and the factors for success of each.  The conversation concludes with policy recommendations to accelerate energy access in Nepal, and the role of energy access in pandemic era economic recovery. 
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Join the discussion!​

Over the next few days, we’ll be posting the questions below, in our post-Chat social media forum.  Share your insights on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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  • How can governments better support local manufacturers, producing local jobs and enhancing skill sets?
  • What are the different roles that subsidies and loans have in scaling up mini-grids?  Can they complement each other?
  • What can help enable communities to identify financially viable productive end use?
  • What productive end uses can especially be leveraged by and benefit women?  
  • How have mini-grids played a role in economic recovery and resilience of communities in the pandemic age ? 
  • What types of policies can support community-private partnerships to accelerate energy access?
​
In case you missed it
​

Check out our first edition of StreamSide Chats in which we discussed the role of micro hydro in contributing to long term rural economic recovery and resilience in the pandemic era. 

📽️:  StreamSide Chats - Edition 1, Recovery & Resilience
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MADAGASCAR:  MICRO AND MINI HYDRO INITIATIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION DES INGÉNIEURS POUR LE DÉVELOPPEMENT DES ENERGIES RENOUVELABLES (AIDER)

12/21/2020

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The electrification rate in Madagascar remains very low, averaging 15 percent nationally, 8.1 percent in rural areas and 60.7 percent in urban areas. While biomass, diesel, and fossil fuels dominate the energy mix across the country, there exists a great potential for small-scale hydro systems. Only 1.9 percent of Madagascar’s hydropower potential has been utilized, and yet hydropower generates approximately 68 percent of the electricity in the country.  Its economy depends on tourism and the cultivation of paddy, coffee, vanilla, and cloves, which could be further enhanced through increased energy access.

Small-scale hydropower also presents great potential for ecosystem restoration in Madagascar. Healthy watersheds are critical to sustainable community-based hydropower, as mature forest cover ensures consistent stream-flow, mitigates erosion, and builds resilience against the impacts of climate change.  As such, hydro mini-grids are a nature-based solution that promotes watershed strengthening. Investment in nature-based solutions like small-scale hydro can play a critical role in building climate resilience and safeguarding biodiversity in Madagascar, where more than 90% of original forests have been lost.

One of the leading small-scale hydro implementation organizations in Madagascar is the Association des Ingénieurs pour le Développement des Energies Renouvelables (AIDER).  Read on to learn about AIDER’s efforts to advance small-scale hydro in Madagascar.

Established in 2008, AIDER is an association of about 20 multidisciplinary engineers working in the field of renewable energy in Madagascar. AIDER works on studies, design and implementation of hydroelectric and solar power plants. AIDER works in partnership with the Agency for the Development of Rural Electrification (ADER), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Tany Meva Foundation, the Institute for Energy Management (IME) at the University of Antananarivo, the Higher Institute of Technology of Antananarivo (IST), the Group for Research and Technological Exchange (GRET) and the Albert Schweitzer Ecological Centre (CEAS).
Two 7.5 kW micro hydro systems in Andriantsemboka. Credit: AIDER
Switchboard for one of two 50 kW MHPs in Sarobaratra. Credit: AIDER
Mini hydro in Amboasary – Anjozorobe. Credit: AIDER
Locally-developed micro hydropower

AIDER has built eight MHPs, ranging from 7.5 kW to 100 kW, electrifying a total of about 450 households in rural municipalities of the Analamanga and Atsimo Andrefana regions.  Five of the projects are owned and operated by AIDER.  All of the systems use turbines that have been locally manufactured by AIDER, thereby having generated local employment.  In addition to providing reliable electricity to households, the MHPs power town halls, police stations, clinics, churches, schools, and street lighting. ​
Partnership for feasibility and design studies

Since 2009 AIDER has carried out approximately 30 studies for micro hydropower projects (MHPs), including hydrological studies.   In 2018 AIDER began collaboration with the Swiss Resource Centre and Consultancies for Development (Skat).  On behalf of GIZ’s Renewable Energy Electrification Project (PERER) in Madagascar, Skat partnered with AIDER to conduct the following.  

  • Feasibility of study of the Amabatotoa site, where the options of a 100 kW off-grid project, 2.3 MW grid-connected project, and 6 MW grid-connected reservoir project in the Upper Matsiatra Region 
 
  • Feasibility study of the Ivato off-grid site of 100 kW in the Amoron'i Mania Region 
 
  • Detailed study of the off-grid Sahandaso Mini Hydro Project of 240 kW  in the Atsinanana Region, including developing the MV line plans, single line diagrams, design calculations and cost estimates
​
AIDER carried out hydrological analyses, topographical surveys, installation and operation of the gauging stations, installation of pressure probes, and recording tables with iridium antenna for auto data transmission.  It also conducted flow measurements and analysis using the propeller method, conductivity meters, and an acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP).


Topographical survey of cross section. Credit: AIDER
Gauging station at Sahandaso with automatic data transmission. Credit: AIDER
Hydrological station at the Ambatotoa site. Credit: AIDER
Hydrological station at the Ivato site. Credit: AIDER
Flow measurement using the propeller method. Credit: AIDER
Flow measurement with conductivity meter at the Sahandaso site. Credit: AIDER
Mini hydropower for local industry and agri processing

AIDER and SKAT are currently collaborating with CEAS and UNDO to develop a detailed design study for the development of the Andriambe mini hydro project, having a potential of 225 kW and located on the Nanangainana River in Mandialaza. 

The project aim is to provide clean and affordable electricity to three villages, in terms of household needs, critical social infrastructure, and productive end uses, such as carpentry workshops, feed mills, metal workshops and food processing. 

Ginger processing presents a particularly promising opportunity to generate income in the villages. Ginger is currently sold as a raw product to passing traders at a very low price.  Affordable electricity will enable the production of a higher-value product.  
Harvested ginger sold raw. Credit: AIDER
Carpentry workshop. Credit: AIDER
The site’s catchment area is almost completely located within the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Although part of it is partly deforested for agriculture use, forest conservation will lead to a healthy watershed that is vital  for the sustainability of the MHP. Further, the project will incorporate corresponding awareness-raising activities on appropriate management methods for local communities residing in the catchment area.
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The densely forested catchment area. Credit: AIDER
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PROJECT UPDATE:  UPSCALING LOCALLY MANUFACTURED TURGO TURBINE

12/3/2020

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Last quarter HPNET Board of Representatives member Biraj Gautam described our project, shared about the development of a Turgo turbine design, appropriate for local manufacturing in Nepal.

While common in larger scale hydropower and with some off-the-shelf products available, the Turgo turbine is not currently manufactured by micro-hydropower companies in Nepal. As a medium head turbine, the Turgo offers a viable option for sites where the characteristics make the choice between Pelton and Cross-flow turbines difficult.

This article developed by 
​
Joe Butchers, PhD candidate at the University of Bristol, provides an update on our progress in the project so far.                                                 

Picture
Fakfok MHP in Ilam, Nepal. An example of a medium head MHP, which could be appropriate for the Turgo turbine. Credit: Sam Williamson
​Project Objectives

An objective of the project was to install a micro-hydropower Turgo turbine at a pilot site. Currently, we have manufactured a 1.5kW Turgo turbine but it is important to check the performance of the turbine for higher rated powers. The experimental results from the 1.5kW turbine have allowed us to develop a hydrodynamic scaling model. This numerical model can be used to check whether a site has appropriate head and flow rate, and then determine the best pitch circle diameter and rotational speed for the turbine. 
After identifying a number of viable sites, we selected a site in Taplejung district where the existing turbine requires replacement after many years in service. For this site, our scaling model was used to show that the Turgo turbine is appropriate and can be used to directly drive a generator. Whilst similar to Pelton turbines, the higher specific speed of the Turgo means that direct drive transmission is feasible at much lower heads.
​
Picture
The different flow passages for the Pelton and Turgo turbines. Reference: P.N. Wilson, A high-speed impulse turbine, Water Power (1967)

Site Visit


Unfortunately, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has prevented PEEDA staff from visiting the field site. A feasibility study is required to find out the technical and socio-economic features of the site and the community. Technically, we need to evaluate the current status of the civil structures and installed equipment. In addition, we require measurements of the powerhouse layout so that the new turbine can interface with existing components. From a socio-economic perspective, we want to understand how the plant is managed, whether the plant generates sufficient income, and assess the opportunity to maximise the plant’s capacity factor. It is important that we ensure that the plant is sustainable in delivering electricity to the community. We continue to monitor the coronavirus situation and hope to be able to visit the site when it is safe to do so. 

3D CAD Design
​

Using the head and flow rate from the site and our scaling model, it has been possible to begin the detailed design of the Turgo turbine. The long-term intention is to develop a range of Turgo turbine designs appropriate for sites across the micro-hydropower range. We have been developing calculation sheets for all of the key components which allow dimensions to be determined. We have developed a parametric 3D CAD model that is linked to the calculation sheets. This allows us to quickly adapt the design depending on inputs into the calculation sheet. The 3D design is taking place collaboratively between the Electrical Energy Management Group at the  University of Bristol and Nepal Yantra Shala Energy. The design objective is to produce a design that can be readily manufactured in Nepal with existing machinery and readily available materials. It is expected that detailed design will be completed soon allowing the production of engineering drawings to begin. Initially, the focus is on developing a complete design package for the site in Taplejung. This will include 2D engineering drawings, bill of materials, and supporting 3D CAD files allowing the design to be manufactured in Nepal. Subsequently, we will use the parametric 3D model to generate multiple design packages for the complete operational range.​​
​
Picture
Design of the Turgo runner in CAD software. Credit: Joe Butchers

​March 2021 Workshop

​
Depending on coronavirus, we plan to hold a workshop in Nepal in late March 2021. The workshop will teach participants about the design packages, key stages in the manufacturing process, how to assemble and install the turbine, and about the operation and maintenance procedures. The workshop is intended for representatives of Nepali manufacturing companies but there may be several places available for international participants. In the longer term, we plan to make the completed design packages and the supporting materials available open-source online. We are hopeful that for local manufacturers across the Hydro Empowerment Network, we will be able to provide a design that increases their range of available turbine designs. 

​This article was written by Joe Butchers, PhD candidate at the University of Bristol. The project is titled Upscaling locally manufactured Turgo Turbine: Dissemination and Demonstration includes the Electrical Energy Management Group at the University of Bristol, PEEDA, Nepal Yantra Shala Energy, Turbine Testing Laboratory at Kathmandu University and HPNET as project partners, and is funded by Energize Nepal.  The work undertaken by the University of Bristol is also funded through an EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account titled Development of an open-source Turgo turbine design tool.
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LOCAL CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: TURGO TURBINE IN NEPAL

7/1/2020

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Introduction

Nepal is a country full of mountains and hills. Access to the electricity grid has always been a difficult task due to difficult terrains and cost involved. Thanks to its abundant water resources, support from development partners and government policy, micro hydropower technology was introduced nearly fifty years ago in Nepal. Today more than 30,000 hydro stations with an installed capacity less than 999 kW have been installed in the country generating more than 30 MW of electricity, which provides electricity access to more than 300,000 households. Most of them were implemented under a unique model of rural electrification where the rural communities were put in charge of constructing, owning and managing hydropower plants with the government of Nepal and many I/NGOs providing subsidy and technical support. 

Nepal is considered as one of the best examples in the field of micro hydropower development. This sector is able to draw global attention. Today, Nepal can share its best practices, and lessons learnt on how capacity can be built in rural communities without access to electricity to own, build and run their own mini-grid systems. Through this, Nepal has developed an excellent working experience in micro hydropower plants which contributes to the national economy and community livelihoods. However, development of the technology has not moved forward since its introduction. 


A brief on MHP manufacturing in Nepal

Today, more than 80% of installed turbines in Nepal are either Crossflow or Pelton. Both the technologies were introduced in Nepal in the early 1970's. The Crossflow turbine was first manufactured in Balaju Yantra Shala Pvt. Ltd. The Pelton turbine was introduced by Butwal Technical Institute. These two companies were the pioneering companies working in the promotion of micro hydro in Nepal where the Swiss and German aid programs were crucial in the development of the sector in Nepal. BYS and BTI were not only manufacturing the technology but also training people to develop in country capabilities. The trained human resources later started opening their own manufacturing facility in different locations in Nepal. They started product supply, installation, and maintenance services to abroad. We have been reaping benefits of the approaches that we learned in the early 70's, but there were few attempts to introduce new technology in Nepal and support Nepali manufacturers to develop new turbine designs locally.  Further, decades of manufacturing of the same types of turbines has saturated the turbine market and some of the manufacturers wish to diversify their capacity but have not been able to do that on their own.

Technology transfer through a unique model

Research at the University of Bristol showed that the Turgo turbine would be a suitable design for Nepali contexts, fitting between the Pelton and Crossflow offerings and able to deal with the high silt content in Nepali rivers. Nepal Yantra Shala Energy (NYSE), a micro hydro manufacturing company in Kathmandu with an experience of more than 50 years in MHP had already observed the need for Turgo turbines in their manufacturing list. However, they were unsure how to progress the idea. They had purchased one small sized Turgo turbine set and kept it in their workshop. PEEDA has been working in the field of energy access, capacity development and research for 20 years. Turbine Testing Lab at Kathmandu University provides the facilities to test turbines across a range of power outputs. These 4 institutions joined forces to form a team to develop Nepal's capacity to manufacture the Turgo turbine locally. The year 2018/19 was spent working on the design, manufacturing and testing of the Turgo turbine at a Pico scale. 
​
Picture
Experimental testing rig. Credit: PEEDA.
Advantages of the Turgo Turbine
​
  • Water enters through top of the turbine runner and exits through bottom, leading to less interference between incoming and exiting water flow.
  • Allows a larger flow for same size runner or a smaller runner for same power output.
  • Able to operate over wide range of heads and flows efficiently.
  • The Turgo fills the gap where the head is too high for Crossflow turbine, requiring the runner to be narrow, and where the head is too low for Pelton turbine, requiring a physically large runner rotating slowly. ​
PictureTurbine application chart. Credit: PEEDA.
​The unit has been installed in Naubise, Dhading which is about 22 km from Kathmandu Valley. This unit is available for anyone interested to see it in operation.

To introduce a new micro hydropower technology to Nepal, it was important to understand the capability of micro hydro companies and the manufacturing processes that are available. This information can be used to ensure that the design of all components for a new type of turbine is appropriate for manufacture in the context of Nepal. A thorough study was conducted of the Nepali manufacturing companies which are based in Kathmandu and Butwal, central Nepal. Our study showed that manufacturers in Nepal tend to have access to the same equipment and materials, meaning that the processes for fabricating Turgo turbines tends to be very similar. However, as casting is an external process, the interface between the micro hydro companies and casting companies is a potential risk to the quality and accuracy of the Turgo cups. 
​

Next Steps

The next steps for the project are to increase the technology readiness level of the Turgo turbine in Nepal. This will enable manufacturers to be equipped with all of the necessary information to design, manufacture and install Turgo turbines. A joint effort of all the partners,  including HPNET, will be facilitated to improve technology readiness. There are two parts to this future research:

  • Workshop on Turgo Design and Manufacture
This workshop will provide the information needed for key stakeholders to be able to identify potential sites for the Turgo turbine, size and design the turbine system, manufacture the Turgo runner, and install and test the system. Both theoretical and practical support will be delivered in the workshop to ensure that a good understanding of the turbine is developed in the Nepalese micro hydropower manufacturing community.
​
  • Open-Source Repository of Turgo Turbine System Design and Webinar
The scalable tools and drawings for the Turgo turbine will be placed in an open and free web-based repository, enabling access for any stakeholder that is interested in the Turgo turbine. This will allow micro-hydropower manufacturers, in Nepal and worldwide, access to the necessary details to construct a complete Turgo turbine system. Alongside the drawings, guides will be developed to enable the knowledge generated from both projects to be shared with the audience, for example key constraints in casting Turgo cups, jigs required to assemble the runner, and how to select an appropriate site for the turbine.
The project team will also install a micro hydropower scale Turgo turbine at a site to demonstrate its potential for the future. With these plans in place, we hope the future for the Turgo turbine in Nepal is bright!
Picture
Turgo project near Kathmandu. Credit: PEEDA.

This article was written by guest blogger and HPNET Board of Representatives Member, Biraj Gautam, who is the Research Team Leader of the project and Chief Executive Officer at People, Energy and Environment Development Association (PEEDA) in Kathmandu, Nepal.
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PELTON TURBINE TRAINING AT CREATECH, Philippines

12/11/2019

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Last month, practitioners from Philippines and Malaysia gathered for a training session on Pelton micro hydro turbine fabrication. The session was the second part of a two-part training organized by HPNET and Sibol Ng Agham At Teknolohiya (SIBAT), to strengthen local capacities in fabrication and manufacturing.

The training responded to the knowledge exchange needs of HPNET Members in the Philippines and Malaysia who require skills to design and build Pelton micro hydro turbines.

Following an online training in November, the in-person training ran from December 2 - 7 and was held at SIBAT's Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technology (CREATech) in Capas, Tarlac, Philippines. The overall aim was for participants to acquire knowledge of the design, manufacturing and testing of Pelton turbines, including fabrication of the Pelton runner assembly.
Participants benefited from an opportunity for hands-on learning, in addition to technical and theoretical presentations. 

Within Pelton Turbine Design, sub-topics covered included:
  • Single and multi jet turbines;
  • Vertical and horizontal axis turbines;
  • Direct and belt drive systems;
  • Net head calculations and shaft calculations;
  • Pelton runner sizing;
  • Bearing and belt selection;
  • Other components.

The resource person for this training was HPNET Member Mr. Ajith Kumara from Simple Engineering, a senior micro and mini hydropower specialist based in Sri Lanka. Mr. Kumara has extensive experience training practitioners in design and fabrication aspects of various electro-mechanical components of small-scale hydropower.

This training was made possible by SIBAT, WISIONS and Simple Engineering.


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PT ENTEC TEAM VISITS TONIBUNG IN MALAYSIA

9/20/2019

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PictureHPNET Board members from Pt Entec Indonesia at CREATE in Sabah, Malaysia. Image credit: A. Lasimbang
​

Last week, HPNET members in Indonesia and Malaysia came together to share their micro hydropower expertise and support each other's important work in energy access. HPNET Board members Gerhard Fischer and Ardi Nugraha of PT Entec Indonesia visited the TONIBUNG team at CREATE in Sabah, Malaysia to provide input on turbine design and fabrication techniques.

TONIBUNG has pioneered community-based micro hydro in Malaysia, working in partnership with  remote, indigenous communities for over 25 years. Despite their ample experience and expertise, the team is always looking for opportunities to improve their techniques and expand their impact.

HPNET facilitated the start of the partnership between TONIBUNG and PT Entec, way back when, and the network has benefited immensely from the ongoing contributions of both organizations. It is great to see continuous knowledge exchange (often self-initiated, as in this case) between these long-standing HPNET Members.
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ONE STUDENT'S JOURNEY IN COMMUNITY MICRO HYDRO WITH HPNET

6/22/2015

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PictureACREST technician, Momanyi Oreri, fabricates a crossflow turbine runner on the lathe in his workshop in Bangang, Cameroon.
There are few singular moments in life that redefine who we are; always in retrospect, those moments are abundantly clear. In October 2010, as a wide-eyed and barely-sophomore civil engineering student, I sheepishly attended a callout event for Purdue University’s relatively new “Global Design Teams” initiative. The lights dimmed on one presentation entitled “Development of Community Power from Sustainable Small Hydro Power Systems -- A Capacity Building Project in Bangang, Cameroon”. The title alone appealed to my self-ascribed environmentalism, my burgeoning lust for nomadism, my engineering intrigue, and my misguided “do-gooder” morality. I approached the presenter, Dr. Laurent Ahiablame, after his slideshow and, informing him that I had no prior knowledge of small-scale energy projects, inquired what level of experience is required to become a member of the team. He said, “All are welcome in this field -- the technology is built for everyone. There are many people who will guide you along the way, if only you show the dedication.”

Now five years on, as I prepare to take on a new role as Projects Officer for Green Empowerment in Myanmar, I reflect on the decisions, experiences, and people that brought me from that presentation at Purdue University to this point.

Between 2011 and 2014, I took lead of the micro hydro project in Bangang village, Cameroon, tasked with developing a 40kW scheme featuring a collaboratively designed and locally fabricated crossflow turbine. Under the auspices of Purdue’s Global Engineering Program (GEP) and the African Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (ACREST), my team ran the gamut of development successes and foibles. 

Our first turbine prototype was funded by a competitive student grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but barely a year after its inception, and merely three weeks into testing, that prototype was permanently decommissioned due to a catastrophic, indeterminable failure in August 2012. The specific mechanical failure was quickly pinpointed and reported in great detail in the team’s 2013 publication on the incident, but the devastating incident had a great bearing on my worldview as an engineer, as evidenced in the conclusion:

“Engineers’ constant pursuit of higher efficiencies in lieu of a true understanding of appropriate technologies, often a function of culture, and the resultant failures of those biases are well documented. The subsequent necessity for cross-disciplinarity is also well understood. The most compelling prospect for future research in the micro-hydropower field relies critically on the intersection of culture and engineering. All facets of true cross-disciplinarity and multiculturalism should be explored for successful project design and implementation."

PictureIndigenous technicians at Tonibung CREATE fabricate crossflow turbine components at their workshop in Penampang, Sabah.
Upon that revelation, my attention was drawn away from the engineering jigsaw puzzle that is micro hydro systems design and reinvested more purposefully in understanding the intricate and complex cultural fray that ultimately determines the success or failure of any micro hydro project. I found kindred spirits amongst faculty and graduate students in Purdue’s Department of Anthropology. My reflection of this revelatory time was chronicled writ large in my 2014 TEDxTalk, Community Power -- Realizing Sustainability in Development. This opportunity to speak, along with one last successful bid for funding to support hybridization of the Bangang system, effectively punctuated my tenure as team leader with the takeaway lesson that nothing trumps the culture element in community micro hydro. It is the single most accurate predictor of project success and failure.

Upon graduation, I was warmly welcomed into the familial micro hydro scene of South and Southeast Asia by Dipti Vaghela, a micro hydro practitioner and network coordinator for HPNET, and Dr. Chris Greacen, a small power producer policy expert and World Bank consultant. My conversations with them paved the way for the next stage in my journey: Borneo. 

Through HPNET’s extensive network of practitioners in the region, I was quickly introduced to Gabe Wynn and Adrian Banie Lasimbang. Banie, an engineer, serves as the founding director of Tonibung, a non-profit organization located outside of Kota Kinabalu in Sabah which strives to provide rural, indigenous villages with access to clean water and electricity through renewable energy and sustainable solutions. Founded in 1991 to equip relocated indigenous peoples with the skills needed to adapt to unfamiliar agricultural circumstances, the organization now prioritizes integrated projects that serve the greatest human need, prove sustainable over time, and have the possibility of broader impact beyond any single community. Gabe, an anthropologist and environmental scientist by trade, wears two hats as a co-director of Penampang Renewable Energy Sdn Bhd (PRE) -- a social enterprise company set up to cater to Tonibung’s technical renewable energy demands, such as turbine fabrication and consultancy; and as the Borneo Program Manager for Green Empowerment -- a Portland-based community development non-profit which he has been representing in Southeast Asia since 2011.

Between December 2014 and May 2015, I had the great privilege of interning under Banie’s and Gabe’s instruction at Tonibung’s Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technology (CREATE). CREATE, founded in 2013 as direct outcome of HPNET’s 1st Annual Gathering of Practitioners, is a local fabrication facility which has recently begun manufacturing high-head, low flow pelton turbines for the Malaysian context. By the time I set foot in their workshop, CREATE was already well-primed for a push into locally sourced, locally fabricated crossflow turbines -- an entirely new animal for the highly skilled indigenous workshop technicians to sink their machines into. With my background in crossflow design stemming from my years in university, it was easy for me to feel at home in the CREATE space as we co-learned the nuances of civil works design and site selection.

PictureRendering showing what the finished TMT-100 turbine is expected to look like. The design from Remote HydroLight is currently being fabricated at Tonibung CREATE in Sabah, North Borneo.
Things progress quickly at Tonibung, and by March 2015, we had a site selected for crossflow implementation in a remote Murut village of the Bornean interior called Saliku. Pulling once again from HPNET’s wealth of knowledge and resources, we contacted a legendary (and prominently open source) turbine designer, Owen Schumacher, whose 20+ years working in Afghanistan yielded the implementation of hundreds of community micro hydro sites. Owen graciously afforded us personal, in-depth design guidance, recommending a crossflow design branded the “Traditional Mill Turbine”, or TMT, by his organization, Remote HydroLight.

Fabrication of Tonibung’s first crossflow turbine for real-world application began with the TMT-100 (so named for its 100mm effective width) in late April 2015 and continues to this time of writing, with fabrication expected to be completed by July 2015. You can stay informed about CREATE’s crossflow fabrication, and all other Tonibung activites, on their Facebook page. The open source nature of Owen’s simple TMT design allows for, and necessarily encourages, modification by workshop technicians around the world according to their local context and conditions. A complete list of Remote HydroLight’s open source turbine offerings can be found here, and their contribution to the field of open source Electronic Load Controllers (ELCs) can be found here.

Certainly, there is not enough space in a single blog post to identify all, or even most, of the influencers who have blazed the trail for me to pursue community micro hydro, but suffice it to say that my experience and good fortune has depended principally on the kindness of mentors, peers, and role models to help me find each new rung of the ladder. If one thing is certain, Laurent’s assurance to me lo those 5 years ago still holds as true today as it ever did. “All are welcome in this field -- the technology is built for everyone. There are many people who will guide you along the way, if only you show the dedication.”


By Patrick Pawletko, HPNET member

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