![Page 1: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids
Case study - Tuvalu
![Page 2: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
About ITP
•Specialist renewable energy consulting firm
•Over 30 years international experience and 1,000 projects
•Head office in UK
•Major regional offices in India, China and Australia
![Page 3: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
About ITP - Australia
• Head office in Canberra, offices in South Australia and
NSW
• Active in Australia and the Pacific region for over 10
years
• Involved in RE projects of all scales (1 kW to 50+ MW)
• Services
• Engineering Consultancy
• Project Engineering
• Energy Markets and Advisory
• International Aid and Development
![Page 4: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Mini-grids – Tuvalu northern islands
4 of xx slides
![Page 5: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Case study – Tuvalu northern islands
5 of xx slides
• Nine small atoll islands
• Total population approx. 10,000
• 6,000 on the capital, Funafuti
• Other islands populations 100-1,500
• Outer islands only accessible by boat, typically 24hrs by
boat to each island
• Irregular shipping (every 3-6 weeks)
• Shipping often disrupted by weather or boat unavailability
![Page 6: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Case study – Tuvalu northern islands
6 of xx slides
• Existing low voltage AC
electricity grids (diesel)
since 2001
• Grids operated by
electricity utility (Tuvalu
Electricity Corporation)
• Local operators (TEC
employees) deal with day
to day running
• Technicians from the
capital visit periodically or
for repairs when required
![Page 7: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Why renewable energy?
7 of xx slides
• Reduce reliance on
imported diesel
• Reduce running costs
• Cleaner
• Quieter
• Improve reliability
• But:
• Upfront cost can be high
• Storage required
• Can have integration
problems with generator
![Page 8: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Generator efficiency
8 of xx slides
![Page 9: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Generators
9 of xx slides
![Page 10: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Nanumea power station
10 of xx slides
![Page 11: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Village
11 of xx slides
![Page 12: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Village
12 of xx slides
![Page 13: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Tuvalu northern islands- key issues
13 of xx slides
• Reliability • Only 12-18 hours of power per day normally (down to 2-4 hrs
sometimes)
• Frequent diesel shortages due to shipping unreliability
• Generator breakdowns
• Long delays for repairs (can take weeks to send a technician from Funafuti)
• Cost• Estimated ~$1.20 to $1.50/kWh cost of supplying energy (possibly
more)
• Vulnerable to diesel price changes
• Vulnerable to utility cash flow issues
• Tariffs ~25c/kWh – outer islands heavily subsidised by main island and by government
• Remote diesel grids were built as a service to the community, but are very expensive for the government
![Page 14: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Transportation
14 of xx slides
![Page 15: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Unloading
15 of xx slides
![Page 16: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Transportation
16 of xx slides
![Page 17: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Vulnerability to weather
17 of xx slides
![Page 18: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Aims of outer islands solar project
18 of xx slides
• Outer islands 100% renewable energy
• 24hr power
• System to last 20 years without need for major
modification
• Reduce operating costs of outer islands power
systems
• Improve power reliability (and availability during
disasters)
• Grant-funded (NZ Govt)
• Eliminate need for aid fuel subsidies
![Page 19: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Load curve – Nanumea island
19 of xx slides
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00
Load
(kW
)
After load growth
Assumed loads
From data logger
![Page 20: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Load curve – Vaitupu island
20 of xx slides
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00
Load
(kW
)
From logs
From data logger
Assumed loads
![Page 21: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Load estimate - Nanumea
21 of xx slides
• Average 550 kWh per day
• Little seasonal variation, but some “busy” times of year.
• Highest demand around Christmas and special events
• 40% of demand during “solar” hours
• 60% evening/night time
• Allowance for extra days with poor sun – 2 days
• Use this to size battery bank
• Then size solar PV array to meet day time load plus
enough extra energy to fully charge the batteries.
![Page 22: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Design schematic
22 of xx slides
![Page 23: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Design features
23 of xx slides
• Modular
• if one unit fails, most of the system can be kept online
• Spares kept on island, easy to swap out
• Off-the-shelf inverter/controller, easy to order a new one
• Robust and corrosion resistant
• Cyclone proof structure
• No air conditioning required
• Because the air conditioner is often a failure point
• Low maintenance
![Page 24: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Completed system
24 of xx slides
Photo credit: Heather Logie
![Page 25: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Display
25 of xx slides
![Page 26: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Modular inverter/chargers
26 of xx slides
![Page 27: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Sealed batteries
27 of xx slides
![Page 28: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Passive cooling
28 of xx slides
![Page 29: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Performance so far
29 of xx slides
• System is very large for current loads – no diesel needed
• Batteries drop to 80% overnight, are fully charged before
midday if sunny
• Can go for 5 days of cloudy weather without generator
• 1 inverter failure – local operator successfully replaced it
and sent it back for warranty claim
![Page 30: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Training and operation
30 of xx slides
• Local operators involved from beginning of construction
• Training throughout construction and troubleshooting
• Other staff in Funafuti (capital) have been doing solar
training over a longer period and are adapting well with
support from the manufacturers
• Very challenging for the outer island operators to adapt to
the new technology
• Local operators call head office (if possible) for support
from more skilled technicians
![Page 31: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Lessons/challenges
31 of xx slides
Some challenges ITP has seen over the years:
• Skill level of staff on outer islands is usually low
• Systems becoming too reliable (operators stop maintaining
generators totally/ get lazy)
• Social problems with 24hr power (eg loud music at night)
• Logistics can be very complicated
• Getting accurate data and information is difficult (eg
powerhouse data, shipping schedules)
• Communications difficult
• Limited market for companies with experience in designing
and building renewable energy systems on island
environments
![Page 32: Webinar 1 | Mar-16 | Renewable Energy in Small Island Grids: Case study -Tuvalu](https://reader031.vdocuments.us/reader031/viewer/2022030401/58adb1561a28ab73138b5b89/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Southern Cross House,
6/9 McKay St, Turner, ACT
PO Box 6127 O’Connor, ACT 2602
p +61 (0) 2 6257 3511
f +61 (0) 2 6257 3611
itpau.com.au
IT Power Renewable Energy Consulting
Questions