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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 tonibung@gmail.com. 

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

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BASICS OF ELECTRONIC LOAD CONTROLLERS

12/7/2021

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Electronic load controllers (ELCs) are a critical component of micro hydropower systems, which keep turbines, generators, and the energy they produce within safe operating ranges, as loads are switched on and off.  ELCs can prevent damage to appliances and micro hydro components and even mitigate fire and electrical hazards.  Despite their important role, ELCs are generally the least understood component of micro hydro systems.  Equipment selection can be particularly challenging if practitioners are unfamiliar with the different types of ELCs and their relative merits. 

To help demystify ELCs and ease the equipment selection process, our Controllers and Load Management Work Stream has developed an easy-to-follow factsheet.  This “Basics of Electronic Load Controllers (ELCs)" tool provides a useful background on electronic, automatic and manual flow control, with pointers on their relative cost and suitability in different contexts.  Specific types of ELC designs are further illuminated, as well as ballast/dump load types and control methods, commissioning checks, and useful questions to ask of suppliers.   

Check out the “Basics of Electronic Load Controllers (ELCs)" at this link.

We extend our thanks to Work Stream contributors Ajith Kumara, Bob Matthews, Dan Frydman, Jiwan Kumar Mallik and Rams Vaidhyanathan.

For more useful tools, check out our Micro Hydro Toolkit for Practitioners, which includes a DIY ELC Simulation Tool designed to help train local operators!

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MICRO HYDRO TOOLKIT UPDATE: NEW VIDEOS

7/22/2020

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Have you seen our Micro Hydro Toolkit for practitioners?  With support from the WISIONS SEPS, in partnership with Tonibung and Green Empowerment, HPNET has developed a set of technical tools for small-scale hydro practitioners.  These practical tools, made by and for practitioners, include our Micro Hydro Standards Tool, Practitioners Database, Do-It-Yourself (DIY) "Canary" Load Indicator Device, DIY ELC Simulation tool, and our HPNET digital app.

We’re excited to introduce three new informative videos describing the ELC Simulation Tool and Canary Chic Load Indicator Device:
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DIY Electronic Load Controller (ELC) Simulation Tool

A lack of local knowledge of Electronic Load Controllers (ELC) is often the reason for micro hydro shutdown.  HPNET's Do-it-Yourself (DIY) ELC Simulation Tool is a physical device designed to help train village operators on the functionality of ELCs.

Watch the video for a snapshot of how the tool can be used to simulate load patterns and demonstrate the role of an ELC in regulating load.
Micro Hydro Toolkit App

The MHP Toolkit app is a graphic-based tool to help you understand basic, as well as in-depth technical aspects of community-scale hydropower.  The app includes a digital version of the ELC Simulation Tool, described above.  It also provides a micro hydro trouble-shooting guide, walking the user through tips and tests to solve issues ranging from over-voltage to unidentified noise coming from the powerhouse.  The tool can be downloaded on Android and Windows. 


This video provides a useful overview of the functionality of the MHP Toolkit app and all that it can offer practitioners.
Canary Chic Load Indicator

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Some Micro-Hydro systems with a high electrical demand or lack of water resource can suffer from service interruptions.  As consumers connect more appliances it can be difficult to know what the available capacity of the system is at any particular time during the day.
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We set out to design a simple, low-cost, open-source device that can provide some insight for the consumers into when a system is reaching full capacity and therefore in danger of triggering a blackout.

This video gives a brief introduction to the device, how it works, how you can access the design materials, and how to make it most effective for your Micro-Hydro systems.
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GREEN EMPOWERMENT TO ORGANIZE REGIONAL TRAINING ON ELECTRIC LOAD CONTROLLERS

4/2/2019

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On April 7th, eleven micro hydropower professionals from six countries of South and Southeast Asia will be convening in Malaysia to participate in an ELC training workshop hosted by HPNET members Green Empowerment and Tonibung, funded by the WISIONS SEPS.
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Electronic load controllers (ELCs) can be a vital component of micro hydropower systems. Without ELCs or other load management solutions, the electricity generated could veer outside of standard specifications, which may cause damage to appliances and system components, or become fire and electrical hazards in worst case scenarios.  However, it is often the least understood component of micro hydro systems by local practitioners, and hence can lead to long periods of downtime and high costs, when in need of troubleshooting, repair, or replacement.

The workshop aims to facilitate knowledge transfer of an Open Source ELC design to the participants. This design has been produced through collaborative project work supported by Engineers Without Borders-UK, their local partners Sibat (Philippines) and Tonibung (Malaysia). Work was continued by Green Empowerment and WISIONS, bringing about this event where the technology can be disseminated, reviewed and improved by other practitioners in HPNET.
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The training will last two weeks, covering topics such as digital electronics, system topologies, troubleshooting and build sessions to improve practical electronics skills. The exchange activities will be done in Tonibung’s Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technology. At the end of the training, participants are expected to have built their own digital ELC main circuit boards, have a good understanding of its operation, and have the skills required for installation, maintenance and repair of the system. They will be able to bring the knowledge gained back to their home organizations along with notes and resources, enabling them to share it with partners, and apply it to their projects for the advancement of sustainable development in their respective countries.

The exchange will explore how to further advance the Open Source ELC to include features for interconnection to the main grid and project-to-project interconnection, as well as improved load management.  The exchange builds onto the local momentum generated by participants of HPNET's 2016 regional training, "Capacity Building for Electronic Load Controller Technicians in S/SE Asia", supported by the WISIONS SEPS.
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