While there have been significant gains in promoting accessible and clean energy in Asia and the Pacific, many communities still lack an adequate and reliable supply of electricity, especially in remote areas.
This is the case in the Philippines where there are rural areas that lag behind in electrification despite improvements in the energy sector. Several communities are not connected to the power grid. Energy insecurity has resulted in high electricity prices and inequality in distribution, which stifle economic growth. The frequent use of diesel generators also increases air pollution. This spells the need for an energy solution that is clean, affordable, and sustainable and that can be replicated in other rural areas in Asia and the Pacific.
HeliosAltas, one of the winners of the first Technology Innovation Challenge for the Energy Sector of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is piloting the use of a micro-hydro wheel in the Daguitan Canal, an irrigation source near Tacloban City in the Philippines'' Visayas region. The objective of the Helios PowerWheel project, which is supported by ADB''s High-Level Technology Fund, is to generate low-cost and reliable micro-hydropower even in shallow or low-speed water sources.
The High-Level Technology Fund is committed to promoting energy efficiency technologies, which are essential in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and meeting Paris Agreement commitments.
The microgrid solution with Helios PowerWheel is designed for remote or weak grid area applications. The system integrates seamlessly with any microgrid configuration and other sources of renewable power, like solar or wind. Units are easy to install, modular, and scalable, with an environmental footprint that is only a fraction of wind and solar systems.
In the Daguitan Canal, a micro-hydro wheel will be deployed to produce 4.5 to 5 kilowatts (kW) of continuous power at given flow conditions. This technology will demonstrate how most of the existing irrigation canals can be utilized to generate power for the community. The solution is envisioned to become a practical, economical, and reliable source of power for microgrids.
Proof of concept has been demonstrated through installations under various conditions in different parts of the world, including Alaska, California, and Washington DC in the United States; Indonesia; the Philippines; and Mexico. Significant data was collected from each project. Several of these projects remain fully operational 24/7 after several years, including installations in Balingasag municipality in Misamis Oriental province in the Philippines (2.5 kW microgrid) and Nevada Irrigation District (4 units) and Utica Water District in California (400-watt unit) in the US.
The Balingasag project in the Philippines, in particular, showcases the technology''s impact in remote, tropical areas where solar/battery power alone is not sufficient and that cannot be reached by conventional grid-tied power. Completed in only 2 weeks, this HeliosAltas-funded rural electrification project included streetlights, utility drops for each house, and power for a community water transfer pump and storage tank. The village residents, who maintain the system, now enjoy a significant improvement in health, safety, and overall quality of life.
The pilot in Tacloban, meanwhile, will include installing a larger 5-kW water wheel, featuring a unique wing blade design capable of producing energy efficiently from slow-moving water in a canal. This innovation is expected to expand the available market for this technology to 80% of the canals that have been considered unusable because the water is too slow. This will in turn increase the number of locations where this microgrid solution can be installed.
The Helios PowerWheel will not change or disrupt the canal or landscape in design, and it should not have a negative environmental impact to the project site. Its patented flow-through technology and remote suspension system can automatically raise the wheel during floods or when encountering large debris.
As part of the pilot-testing, the generated power will be used by a partner local resort where solar panels and lithium-ion batteries will also be installed, creating a simulated microgrid. The 6- to 7-kW solar panels will operate 6 to 7 hours per day and will be complemented by the micro-hydropower technology solution. Any excess generation supply will be discharged into the local electric cooperative''s grid. In case of a deficit, the cooperative will provide the needed supply.
The demonstration site will be eventually converted into a fully functional commercial project. Relevant stakeholders, such as the National Irrigation Administration, local government, and local utilities, will have unlimited and full access in perpetuity to observe and evaluate the project and use it as a showcase for promoting hybrid micro-hydro concepts in other parts of the Philippines and even in other member countries of ADB.
This demonstration project is intended to serve as a model for any commercial entity near a canal or stream where hybrid micro-hydro and solar systems can substantially reduce power purchases from the utility and provide reliable backup. It will also demonstrate the benefits of integrating micro-hydro with solar to improve battery storage life and reduce battery bank size.
Like many areas in the Philippines, Tacloban City and the surrounding areas are highly exposed to natural hazards. Tacloban was the ground zero of Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which devastated the city''s critical infrastructure and claimed thousands of lives. Microgrids can disconnect from a central grid, which can be of help in times of disasters.
Microgrids that are powered by renewables also contribute to decarbonization and decentralization. Putting up a micro-hydropower facility in a community canal can bring the benefits of high-level technology to isolated or off-grid communities. The chosen location for the pilot is similar in geography and accessibility to many off-grid locations.
The combined micro-hydro and solar technology solution can help communities with access to running canals or streams to create their own sustainable and reliable energy source. This is on top of the long-term cost savings it can bring.
There are few scenarios in which this system cannot be deployed as long as the water flow and velocity criteria are met. The Helios PowerWheel is considered an ultra-low head device that only requires 8 to 12 inches of water depth for extracting power, as long as the flow velocity is 1.2 meter/second (3.9 feet/second) or higher. Even with dramatic seasonal changes, such as flooding, some units can be physically moved out of the waterway temporarily as needed.
Under its Strategy 2030, ADB is mainstreaming the use of advanced technologies by carrying out pilot testing, strengthening project design, emphasizing quality in procurement, and mobilizing subject experts.
The High-Level Technology Fundwas established in May 2017 as a multi-donor trust fund in ADB that provides grant financing to encourage more widespread adoption of high-level technologies to address development challenges in member countries. It is currently funded by the Government of Japan.
Following the premise that development impact can be profoundly improved with the right advanced solutions, the fund seeks to promote the integration of high-level technologies and innovative solutions into ADB-financed and administered projects. It also aims to connect technology providers with ADB''s project officers and member countries to explore business opportunities for high-level technology integration.
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