Modern Environmental Science and Engineering (ISSN 2333-2581) January 2018, Volume 4, No. 1, pp. 78-82 Doi: 10.15341/mese(2333-2581)/01.04.2018/009 Academic Star Publishing Company, 2018 www.academicstar.us Potential Application of Hydrokinetic Turbine for Rural Electrification in Katibas Region Lydia Anak Aling, Sarimah Binti Atan, and Mohd Fahies Bin Ismail Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Mukah, Sarawak, Malaysia Abstract: Efforts to bridge the electricity supply gap in Katibas region require an immediate effort, particularly in the economic squeeze and dependency of rural population to the uncertain price of diesel and petrol for daily needs. Due to the fact that Katibas region is in high rainfall areas and has a river profile that similar to known potential sites, hydrokinetic power should be considered for electrification in this region. Thus, this study reviews the latest literature on the potential of hydropower for rural electrification. To investigate the potential of hydrokinetic power in this region, current status of energy and electrification in Katibas region has been presented. The challenges and benefits of hydrokinetic development to the region and local community also have been and discussed. Key words: renewable energy, hydropower, hydrokinetic, electrification, rural area 1. Introduction Katibas region located along the Katibas River which is a tributary of the Rajang River, located in the district of Song in the Seventh Division, Kapit Sarawak. 12,400 of people estimated residing the long house along the river and other tributary such as Tekalit River, River Musah and Bangkit River. Katibas River is the only access to the most remote settlements in the region which only can be accessed by long boat, took up to 6 hours of journey. Due to the logistic problem, this Fig. 1 Sarawak Electrification Map [5]. region is one of the areas in Sarawak which have the region is highly desirable. With electricity, people here lowest level of electrification coverage and people in can ease their daily chores by using some of the this area still fully rely on highly price petrol/diesel gen electrically powered appliances long enjoyed by urban set to light up their house at night. From the Sarawak dwellers [1]. People especially young generation often electrification map (update in 2016) in Fig. 1, shows move to the nearest town to live a better life. This that most of the areas in Katibas region are unelectrify scenario opened to the aims to investigate the potential and categorized as Remote Not Grid Connectable. As and benefits of hydrokinetic turbine for electrification the government aim to achieve 100% rural in Katibas region. To give a full point of view, this electrification by 2025, the electrification progress is paper also explains current status electrification in still too far away and providing electricity for this mentioned areas and the possible challenges and benefits of this technology. Corresponding author: Lydia Anak Aling, Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Lecturer, research areas/interests: renewable energy. E-mail: [email protected]. Potential Application of Hydrokinetic Turbine for Rural Electrification in Katibas Region 79 2. Current Electrification Status of Rural Areas in Sarawak In 2009, Sarawak listed among the poorest states in Malaysia and one factor that has significant link with poverty in Sarawak is the energy crisis. With still more people in remote areas not supplied with electricity, electrification in rural areas not only affects the poverty Fig. 2 Electricity coverage by households in rural areas [5]. in certain states as well as the whole country. In 2010, the level of electrification in Sarawak indicates very low progress (by only 78.74%, respectively) compared to the electrification in whole Malaysia with 99.62% [2]. Sarawak Energy Bhd. reported that the electrification coverage by households in urban and rural Sarawak in 2016 is 52%:48% with 1.2 million people living in rural setting involving 6,235 villages and 200,000 homes. 1,919 (30%) of villages yet to have 24-hr electricity with the rural electrification Fig. 3 Rural electrification programs in Sarawak [5]. programs benefit to 40,000 homes and 250,000 people in the area and 700 households in the 300 isolated households located in remote areas such as Batang Ai, villages are still without 24-hour supply. Fig. 2 shows Belaga, Baram, Bario and Ba’ Kelalan, by the electricity coverage by households in rural areas in implementing off-grid solar or micro-hydro systems. 2009-2015. Energy crisis is also a major factor that The operation and maintenance of this scheme is may slows down the education progress. Among more responsibility by SEB. The Rural Electrification than 10,000 schools in Malaysia, 809 schools located Programs in Sarawak is as shown in Fig. 3. mostly in Sabah and Sarawak is not yet supplied with 3. Renewable Energy for Electrification in 24-h electricity. There are no plans to connect them to Rural Areas the grid within the next five to ten years [3]. The exhaustion of conventional energy sources and Malaysian has an abundant potential for using the rising demand have compelled the planners and renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind, hydro, policy makers to look for alternative resources. biomass, and tidal [6-8]. In Malaysia, solar energy Through various efforts, it seems that renewable became very significant in rural electrification program energy is the best answer for the energy crisis [4]. The especially photovoltaic (PV) systems. Malaysia’s logistical challenge, cost and challenging terrain never climatic conditions are desirable for extending the stop continuous efforts from Sarawak state government utilization of PV systems due to the high amount of to ensure every people in remote area will be provided solar radiation received throughout the year [9, 10]. with electricity and have a better quality of life. Photovoltaic (PV) is a highly promising renewable Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme or energy option [10]; a photovoltaic (PV) system in SARES is one of the major programs funding by State Kuala Lumpur receives nearly 30% more irradiation and Federal Government which provide alternative than Germany does [11]. Moreover, the daily energy energy for remote communities. This program already generated from a photovoltaic (PV) panel is estimated succeed in light up off-grid community of 2,000 to be more than 500 Wh in each state, which can satisfy 80 Potential Application of Hydrokinetic Turbine for Rural Electrification in Katibas Region the primary household energy consumption [2]. turbines ranging from 1 kW to 100 kW in size and Barriers in implementing solar energy for rural weighing less than 20 kg, making them transportable electrificationare the including high capital cost, solar for repairing or fixing, are desirable for rural areas. system performance and safety as the solar panels are Alternatively, small scale hydropower plants of found can attract lightning strikes [12]. In addition, the different concepts have been developed and tried out climate in tropical regions makes the life span of solar with reduced impact on the environment [18]. In panels shorter and makes it unfavorable by an average addition, micro-hydro turbines can be used in the hot of two months per year due to the rainy and cloudy and humid climate of Malaysia to produce electricity days. Moreover, remote people are generally not [19]. Large-scale hydropower plants need large dams, technically inclined and cannot understand operation huge water storage reservoirs and inundate a large manuals written in a foreign language. forest area creating local dislodgements of the natives, In the early 1980s, a study on Malaysia’s wind animals and exterminating natural life in the region. energy by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia shows that, 4. Hydrokinetic Turbine Potential and due to Malaysia’s location, the mean wind speed is low Benefits to Katibas Communities and no more than 2 m/s [13]. Although the average flow of wind is light in Malaysia, it can generate a high Katibas region is blessed with abundance large amount of energy, especially on remote islands or the amount of water as this region received rainfall ranges East Coast States of Malaysia, which experiences a from 2000-4000 millimeters annually. This large wind speed of about 15.4 m/s during strong surges of amount of waters formed streams and rapids along the cold air from north Sabah and Sarawak. Moreover, it rocky terrain of Katibas River and its tributaries, offers has a high potential of wind energy, which can reach lot of potential site for hydrokinetic turbine to generate 10.2 m/s during October-March [14]. Since the wind electricity. Hydrokinetic or in stream turbine is a very resources are very poor, the use of wind turbinesis rare efficient energy as the electricity is generated directly in Malaysia. At most times it is too small to generate from the shaft power and the system will harness any power for domestic use. Some areas along the energy from free flowing water currents as low as 1 m/s Malaysia–Thailand border record maximum wind in rivers or in straits where many remote communities speed of 15 m/s, which is suitable for the generation of are located. The system should require little or no civil wind power [15]. The potential locations are near the works, transmission lines will be short and no pipe coastal areas. If the main target for off-grid work will be required [1]. This system is inherently electrification program, wind turbine will not be an cheaper to install and operate as it can be fabricated, option [16]. maintained and repaired by the local people. Hydropower is one of the most cost-effective, Hydrokinetic turbine has a great potential to be reliable, predictable and least environmentally implement in Katibas region as the Katibas Rivers intrusive among all renewable energy technologies meets the criteria of known potential sites Ivai River, of that can be considered for rural electrification in less the Parana River Shelf.