First International Conference on Industrial and Information Systems, ICIIS 2006, 8 - 11 August 2006, Sri Lanka

Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation in

Rural Villages

Janaki Balakrishnan, M.A.Sc., P.Eng.TDND Canada, Toronto, Canadajbalakrishnan2004@yahoo.ca

Abstract - This paper on Renewable Energy and DistributedGeneration in rural villages is meant for developing nationslike Sri Lanka, where there is neither infrastructure ofconventional source of energy nor sufficient conventionalenergy for distribution in some rural villages. It is intendedfor a reader population that includes non-engineers, frompolicy makers in the government to end users in communities,as well. As such the discussion is limited to application andusage of technology only, not extending to in-depthengineering analysis, such that an ordinary citizen tounderstand and realize the benefits. It discusses technologiesand application in conjunction with socio-economicconditions. In essence the paper focuses and proposes viableapplication of renewable energy and distributed generation inunder developed areas of developing nations to reduce thelevel of disparity in socio-economy.

I INTRODUCTION

isparity in the socio-economy will be reduced in a

1/ nation, only when the social status and quality of lifeare improved amongst the poor and vulnerable, generallyare the rural communities. It requires fulfillment of thebasic needs through proper facilities. Unlike urbanpopulation, rural population is rarely on the list of priorityand mostly under served with such facilities. In general, aplanned urban development is with energy-drivenapplications, such as water supply, lighting, healthservices, education, food supply, recreation and enterprisethat improve the quality of life of the population. It alsoimproves the social economy through increasedemployment opportunities, which are introduced by theseapplications. Although renewable energy is promotedglobally, urban developments still rely on conventionalsources of energy in developing nations. Lately introducedrural electrification projects often are commercialized andbusinesses and employment opportunities are in the urbancities.

II RENEWABLE ENERGY

Renewable Energy is a form of energy that isinexhaustible or recoverable. Solar energy from the Sun isinexhaustible and available at no cost, which is the originof all sources of renewable energy. Considering the poorsocio-economic status of rural communities in developingnations, cost free source of renewable energy applicationsare highly suitable for the rural development. Further,

reviewing the reports on national development strategiesand priorities in such developing nations, distributedenergy in rural villages is appropriate.

III DISTRIBUTED ENERGY

Distributed energy is small, modular power-generatingtechnologies that are located at or near the location wherethe energy is used [6]. This alleviates the high cost of largeinfrastructures, such as electricity transmission anddistribution grid and water supply purification plant anddistribution network. Further, these large systems generallyuse conventional sources of energy. A properly plannedrural development and distributed generation of renewableenergy will not only improve the socio-economy throughlivelihood facilities and employment prospects, but alsowill improve the quality of life with clean environment.

IV SOURCES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

The sources of renewable energy are not new and in facthave been traditional sources of energy, particularly for therural communities. The application of renewable energy isa modernized, technologically advanced, efficient and pro-environment method of using the same traditional sourcesof energy. Solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and water arethe sources of renewable energy, which are natural andtraditional.

A Solar EnergySolar energy is from the Sun. The use of solar energy as

heat is ancient and well known. Solar energy is used asheat source for several reformed applications in themodern world, such as solar heater, solar oven, solardehydrator (dryer) etc.

Solar energy to produce electricity is a technology thatwas introduced in 1950s. Solar cells, called "Photo Voltaiccells" produce electricity from sunlight. Such cells aremade of Silicon, a semi conductor, in which a photon, or"packet" of light, can initiate a flow of electrons,producing an electric current. The flow is small and manycells are joined together to produce an appreciable current.

Cells are not very efficient and are expensive. But thoseare reliable, have no moving parts, consume no fuel andpollution free. Photovoltaic cells are still underdevelopment for larger scale production. Presently, smallerscale applications, such as lighting, communication, water

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supply system and small size electricity generation arewidely in use.

Sanyo Solar Ark, a city attraction, in Japan is a largescale and innovative solar power generation, an examplethat demonstrates the power of solar energy [9]. This solarpower generator consists of 5046 solar battery panelsinstalled and of maximum system power 630 kW. Itsannual electrical output is approximately 530,000 kWh,which is almost equivalent to 128,610 litres (33,975 USgallons) petroleum energy and capable to reduce 95 tons ofCarbon per year. The fa,ade of Solar Ark is a hugeilluminated presentation panel, with over 77,200 red, greenand blue computer-controlled Light Emitting Diodes -LEDs and 17,000 white LEDs and many other spectacularfeatures [9].

While the building of Solar Ark was embarked as the21st century world renowned monument of solar power,Light Up The World (LUTW) Foundation' has lit up morethan 14,000 rural homes in 26 developing countries fromAfghanistan to Zambia around the world using small size,5 W of solar photo voltaic panels and 1W of White LEDs.LUTW and beneficiaries, over 100,000 believe that theseprojects brought tangible social, environmental andeconomic gains to communities, by enhancing their healthand safety, fostering local education, helping to develop aneconomic infrastructure and protecting the physicalenvironment by reducing the amount carbon based fuelsused for illumination [10].

Solar powered water supply system is another importantaspect of development of rural communities, which aredeprived from conventional grid power. A solar poweredwater supply system unit has been installed for the peopleof Mahawella Estate of the Balangoda Plantations inRatnapura, Sri Lanka [11]. The community lives on a teaand rubber plantation of hilly terrain, where access towater for safe drinking and cooking was a seriousproblem.2

B Wind EnergyWind is caused by the Sun heating the atmosphere and

the earth unevenly. Hence, wind energy is originated fromthe solar energy and converted into kinetic energy in thewind.

Windmill consisted of a number of metal vanes setradial in a wheel, which were turned in air by the windpower is an ancient technology that produced mechanicalpower to sail boats, pump water and grind grains.

1The Founder and Director of Light Up The World Foundation, Dr. DaveIrvine-Halliday, MIEE, MIEEE, SMIREE, P.Eng. is Professor in theDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering at University ofCalgary, Alberta, Canada. He establishes local training centers amongstthe communities or at universities and colleges for implementation of theprojects and future development. University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka hasone of the local training center.2The solution was provided by Moving Water Industries-MWI, Florida,USA and Energy Management Systems (EMS), Colombo, Sri Lanka.

However, industrialization also sparked the developmentof larger windmills, called wind turbine, to generateelectricity. But lately, in the 20th century, with theadvancement of technology, wind energy is widely usedfor rural electrification in the developed countries.Wind turbines capture the wind's energy with two or

three propeller-like blades, which are mounted on a rotor.The turbines sit high atop towers, taking advantage of thestronger and less turbulent wind at 100 feet (30 meters) ormore aboveground, and the turning shaft spins a generatorto produce electricity.Wind turbines can be used as stand-alone applications or

they can be connected to a utility power grid or evencombined with a photovoltaic (solar cell) system. Stand-alone turbines are typically used for water pumping orcommunications. However, homeowners and farmers inwindy areas can also use turbines to generate electricity.For utility-scale sources of wind energy, several turbinesare usually built close together to form a wind power plant,generally called "wind farm" and feed electricity into theutility grid.Wind energy is clean and pollution free, unlike power

plants of combustion fossil fuels, such as coal and naturalgas. Rural areas are good wind sites. Although, thetechnology requires a higher capital investment than fossil-fueled generators, the operation and maintenance cost willbe lower, mainly due to no cost of fuel. The concerns ofnoise of the blades and its outstanding structure in open aircan be resolved by properly situating the wind turbines inthe rural areas.

The Toronto District School Board in partnership withToronto Hydro has created an animated virtual tour ofToronto wind turbine as part of eco schools curriculum[12].3

C Bio-energyBio-energy is produced by the conversion of complex

carbohydrates in an organic matter, such as trees, plants,wood, crops and any matter derived from those. Water,Carbon dioxide and sunlight, ie radiant energy (re) result inglucose and oxygen in a plant, which is expressed in (1).

6H20 + 6C02 + re = C6H1206 + 602 (1)

Equation (1) indicates a process called "photo-synthesis", where water and carbon dioxide consumedunder the sun light, when a plant grows. Radiant energyfrom the sun light is stored in an organic matter. Duringthe reversal of this process, when the organic matter isdecomposed the stored energy is released as heat.

Biomass is any recent organic matter that is available on

3Toronto District School Board jointly with Toronto Hydro introducedthis program to educate primary school students and to promote andengage staff, students and parents in sustainable renewable energy in thefuture.

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a renewable or recurring basis and the source of bio-energy. Biomass resources are agricultural crops, cropsresidues, wood and wood residues, trees, plants includingaquatic, grass, animal wastes, urban wastes and otherresidue materials that are organic matter. Biomassproduces bio-energy during conversion processes, such ascombustion and decomposition.As described in the reversal of "photosynthesis" process,

conversion of biomass into useful energy is a form ofrenewable energy. Unlike fossil fuels such as coal andnatural gas, biomass energy conversion process recyclesthe carbon and does not add any form of carbon into theatmosphere.The use of biomass is not new to rural communities.

Burning firewood for cooking and heating is basic anddirect form of energy from the biomass. But, it isinefficient, unfriendly to the environment and sometimesunsafe. The modernized technologically advancedconversion processes are efficient, environment friendlyand produce different forms of energy, includingelectricity. A number of biomass energy conversiontechnologies are available, to produce solid, liquid and gasbio-energy products that can be used conveniently andefficiently for various purposes.A sample biomass power generation package is

developed by Alternative Green Energy Systems Inc. [13].

D GeothermalGenerally the term "Geothermal" is meant for thermal

energy from within the Earth. Geothermal energy comesfrom radioactive decay in the core of the Earth, whichheats the Earth from the inside out and from the Sun,which heats the Earth from the outside (surface) in.Geothermal energy can be obtained as heat through eitherdeep pipes or heat pump.

Geothermal electricity is produced by pumping a fluid,oil or water into the earth to produce hot gases or steam,that return to run turbines of electrical generators.Otherwise heated fluid is used to heat a secondary workingfluid to produce hot gas or steam, which then drives aturbine. The former is called the "Flash system" and thelater is called "Binary cycle", which are commonly knownmethods for small thermal power plants. Generally, smallthermal power plants to produce electricity are beinginstalled as a way of development for ultimate largegeothermal power plants. Such small plants vary in sizesfrom 1MW to 5 MW.

E Water EnergyWater energy is referred to as Hydropower. Water,

although renewable by the solar energy, is not consideredas one of the topics in this paper, as it has been inapplication already in many developing nations.Nevertheless, introduction of all other forms of renewableenergy for distributed generation will be useful for more

fresh water conservation.

V DEVELOPED COUNTRIES AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Developed countries have already invested on theapplication of conventional sources of energy and a fewhave invested on very expensive nuclear power generationas well. Transportation is heavily depended on petroleumproducts. However, fossil fuel energy application, old coal-fired generating stations and petroleum products fortransportation and other uses are seriously beingconsidered to phase out with modem renewable energysource applications.As presented in the Energy Information Administration

(EIA), 2004 report, distribution of total consumption ofenergy in the USA is presented in Table 1 and the 6% ofRenewable energy distribution is presented in Table 2.

TABLE IENERGY CONSUMPTION - USA

Energy Percentage

Petroleum 39%Natural Gas 24%Coal 23%Nuclear 8%Renewable 6%Total 100%

TABLE 2SOURCES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY - USA

Source Percentage

Biomass 47%Hydroelectric 45%Geothermal 5%Wind 2%Solar 1%Total 100%

Renewable energy generations for most of thesecountries are currently pilots and experimental for thefuture large development applications. Such applicationsare distributed generations in rural developments. Unlikedeveloping countries, these rural developments areenriched in resources for investment and many are initiatedby the Governments or sometimes with privatepartnerships. Successful implementation of the projectsand yielded positive results, hopefully will lead to a mix ofgeneration and distribution of renewable energy andconventional energy in a long term. Studies are underwayto determine the right proportion of mix of renewableenergy and conventional energy and the studies areconducted separately for regions to meet the local needs.

Solar energy products are largely manufactured in Japanand Germany, and they are the consumers of most theirproduction. Solar energy application is widely spreading inthe USA. Liquid bio-fuels, ethanol in fuel-cells and bio-

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diesel are emerging technologies of bio-energy productionto phase out petroleum products in the developedcountries.

Rural areas of European countries and newly developingregions of California, USA are flooded with towers ofwind turbines making use of the remote and desert openareas and mountainous landscape. Geothermal powerplants alone generate more than 2000 MW of electricity inthe USA, most of which is provided by plants over 5 MWin size. The power thermal plants in rest of the world are 5MW or smaller in capacity each.

In the province of Ontario, Canada as reported byOntario Power Authority (OPA), an agency appointed bythe Government of Ontario to study the province's long-term energy needs, the present electricity mix supplyingabout 25,000 MW is as listed Table 3.

TABLE 3ELECTRICITY MIX IN 2006-ONTARIO, CANADA

Energy Percentage

Nuclear 51%Renewable 23%Coal 19%Natural gas 7%Total 100%

According to the OPA, only 12,000 MW of existingpower supply will be operating by the year 2025 due toaging power plants. Many power plants need to berefurbished or replaced to meet the annual peak demandplus the required reserve by 2025. OPA recommendedelectricity mix in the year 2025 is listed in Table 4. Amajor part of renewable energy in the present mix is hydroelectricity, but other forms of renewable energy are beingconsidered and promoted for the current and futuregeneration.

TABLE 3ELECTRICITY MIX IN 2025-ONTARIO, CANADA

Energy Percentage

Nuclear 50%Renewable 43%Natural gas 6%Gasification 1%Total 100%

VI DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Generally in developing countries, on the one handfunds provided as aid are spent expeditiously to meet theimmediate needs. This does not allow for the latestengineering and technical viabilities and benefits.Traditional and conventional approaches are continuedrather than innovation, which requires longer period tostudy and analyze deeply. On the other hand national loans

obtained for development from major international banksare imposed with stringent rules, such as least cost basedprocurement. It prevents implementation of projects withrealizable benefits of innovations and renewable energy. Incontrary to all these, the technical reports on needsassessment prepared by the consultants of the lendingagencies identify the issues and recommend innovativeapproaches. Solar energy is in abundance in most of thedeveloping countries and some regions of those are turninginto deserts, if not already. Application of solar energy anddistributed solar energy generations are ideal in suchregions. Solar energy and solar power applications arewidely spreading in the developing nations, but yet to beexplored more and particularly in the rural areas.

Although very high potential is available with biomassin the developing nations, biomass energy has not beentapped efficiently and for the most benefit. The externalenvironmental benefits of integrated biomass projects arealso potentially significant.

Feasibility studies of a few developing countries showthat biomass projects are financially and technically viablein certain regions. Biomass can be grown, if necessary andconverted to electricity at costs lower than otheralternatives.

Solar and biomass energy applications are financiallyviable for the governments and can achieve a number ofnational goals and benefits. These are also viable and costeffective, even when the projects are implementedcommunity based and on a cooperative approach. The localcommunities need awareness and education to prepare andengage themselves in such projects to reap the benefits.The significant capital cost required for the wind turbine

and geothermal electricity production are not generallyaffordable to the governments of developing countries.These applications need more economic studiesexploration for donor-lender-government-private-community partnership.

Mostly simple to operate and maintain models arerequested for rural communities, even when moderntechnology is proposed. Simplicity had never been definedclearly for this purpose and cost-benefit analysis is oftenlimited to the immediate cash investment only. Thereforerural communities often end up with robust technologyonly, for example borehole hand pumps are installed,whereas variety of solar powered borehole pumps areavailable in the market, which have longer life period,operational simplicity and a number of socio-economicbenefits on investment. Further, skills development onoperation and maintenance of the new technology is anopening for employment prospects within the ruralvillages, avoiding migration to already over populatedurban cities seeking employment.

All applications require considerable labour and otherhuman input. For example, biomass needs to be grown,collected, sorted and processed. Rural women generally

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have been performing these daily either as domestic choresor as family owned farm duties. When renewable energydistributed generation becomes a part of ruraldevelopment, gender mainstreaming can take placenaturally in the employment sector.

VII COSTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

Acceptance and adoption of any technology greatly relyon the availability and cost. Greater acceptance and usageis seen generally, when the cost is much less than theintroductory cost. Continuous effort to reduce the costthrough further investment on research, applications andmarketing becomes the collaborative responsibility ofvarious levels of governments, universities and/or researchinstitutes and business communities. Also disseminationof information on the benefits and affordability to thegeneral public from time to time through media and otherpossible venues increases the rate of acceptance andapplication.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NERL) of theUnited States has done a research and survey on the costvariations of renewable energy from a few differentsources and the cost reductions from 1980 and futureexpectations in the USA as shown in Fig. 1 [14].Introductory, current in year 2006 and future expectedcosts are presented.

Costs of electricity from solar technologies have beenreduced considerably since it was introduced in 1977.Today photovoltaic (PV) technology is 20% andconcentrating solar energy is 14% of the cost in 1980. Theprice of electricity from grid connected PV power systemstoday ranges from 15 to 32 cents/kWh and it is expected tobe reduced around 4 to 6 cents/kWh by 2025.

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

1980 1990 2000 2010

Year

A

2020 2030

Figure 1 Variation and comparison of average costs of renewableenergy during the 50 year period since 1980

It is wind-generated electricity era in the western world.Wind-generated electricity today costs about 4 to 6cents/kWh at 10% of the cost in 1980. National Wind

Technology Center expects to reduce the cost to 3.6 to 5cents/kWh depending on the site during the years 2012 to2014.

Electricity from geothermal resources costs 5 to 8 cents/kWh today, about 33% of the cost in 1980 and is projectedto drop to less than 4 cents/kWh by 2025. Bio-power costs8 to 12 cents/kWh, almost 50% of the cost in 1980. It isexpected to reduce to 6 to 7 cents/kWh by 2020.

Introductory costs of solar and wind are much higherthan geothermal and biomass. Solar power generationintroductory cost was very high, accounting for photovoltaic technology development, manufacture labourintensiveness, limited sizes at the introductory stage,market penetration etc. However, further technology andmanufacture development and determination and effort ofall stakeholders, increased the production in sizes, numbersand shapes, including flexible solar panels and improvedthe market demand, which is clearly indicated by the sharpdecline in the cost in 2006, almost 25 years later. Furtherreduction is expected in another 20 years.

In spite of the heavy and tall structure that demandsmanufacture and installation specialties, the capability ofgenerating higher power with one unit of wind turbine keptthe introductory cost less than half the solar power cost.Wind power generation cost experienced a sharp declinetoo over the same number of years as solar powergeneration. It appears that the cost is stabilizing as windpower generation has been extended widely and in largenumbers.

Although biomass and geothermal introductory cost aremuch lower than the solar and wind power, those two donot experience sharp decline in the cost over the period.These two are not penetrating the market like the other twoin the USA. Further, biomass for example involvesconstant operation and maintenance, unlike solar and wind,which use readily available energy source. However, lowintroductory cost means low initial capital cost, whichindicates a short term payback period. This is vantage toany developing country, and the poor rural communities,who generally have not the opportunity to disburse on highcapital investments.

VIII RECOMMENDATIONS

The following are recommended in order to promoterenewable energy in developing countries:1) The relation of socio-economy of rural communities

and renewable energy, as highlighted in this paper,requires integration of renewable energy solutions intothe country's rural development, poverty alleviationand other related programs for renewable energy tobecome one of the sustainable solutions to addressdeveloping country strategies.

2) The donors and lenders to developing countries forrenewable energy and distributed generation projects,

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develop strategies to view those on the perspective ofrural development, community based and cooperativerather than urban development perspective, such asgovernment owned, tariff and taxes.

3) The delivery of rural energy and distributed generationmeet the specific needs of the users and therefore theirconsultation and active participation is necessary,preferably through community based and cooperativeprojects.

4) Support to pilot projects, replication immediatelyfollowed up on successful implementation andbenefits, diversifying renewable energy sources and amulti year commitment are necessary.

5) Local research and establishment of technical andvocational centers in rural villages in collaborationwith developed countries are inevitable to further thestudies for development and educate and train localcommunities for the sustainability of renewableenergy projects.

REFERENCES

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[2] Jefferey Bently and Rubert Derby, "Ethanol & Fuel Cells:Converging Paths of Opportunity",Renewable Fuels Association,USA

[3] C.Kutscher, "Small Scale Geothermal Power Plant FieldVerification Projetcs," National Renewable Energy Laboratory(NREL) of US Department of Energy Laboratory, Colorado, USA.Conference Paper presented at the GRC 2001 Annual Meeting,Sandiego, CA, August 26-29, 2001

[4] L.Vimmerstedt, "Opportunities for Small Geothermal Projects:Rural Power for Latin America, the Caribbean and the Philippines,"National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of US DepartmentofEnergy Laboratory, Colorado, USA, December 1998, NREL/TP-210-25107

[5] "Biomass as Feedstock for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry:The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply," USDepartment of Energy and US Department of Agriculture, April2005

[6] Virinder Singh, "The work that goes into Renewable Energy,"Renewable Energy Policy Project, BBC Research and Consultingand Jeffrey Fehrs

[7] "Waste-to-Energy, Fact Sheet," Integrated Waste ServicesAssociation, Washington, DC 20005, USA

[8] "Our Energy, Our Future", Publication by the Government ofOntario, Canada, http:Hwww.ontario.ca/enaU

[9] http //www.saLiyocalnada.com/en-CA/aboutsalnyo/solarark_facts.cfin[10] Light Up the World Foundation,[11] Moving Water Industries, Florida, USA, _

[12] h/ _ w_nId turbine/virtuall:tour

[13] "Biomass Power Generation Package featuring Thermix/KDS FuelPreparation and Combustion System," Alternative Green EnergySystems Inc., h

[14] Dan Arvizu, Ph.D., Director, "Renewable Energy: Poised to make adifference," Power Engineering, the magazine ofpower generation,May 2006

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