|
Maldive Gas, a
subsidiary of State Trading Organization PLC, is
pioneering the introduction of hybrid renewable energy
to the Maldives. The idea sprang out from the need for
diversification into alternative sources of sustainable
energy. Solar energy has been in use, but wind energy
was not being deployed in this island nation which was
ideal for generation of wind energy using micro wind
turbines. The country was almost totally dependent on
fossil fuel for its energy needs. Valuable foreign
currency is required to purchase fuel and this spending
is likely to increase with soaring fuel prices in the
international energy market. The increased spending will
reduce the country’s foreign exchange reserves which
could otherwise be better committed to more productive
uses that will stimulate the economy. In addition,
reduction on usage of fossil fuels will bring about
environmental benefits which are especially important
for an island nation such as the Maldives.
In collaboration with Daily Life Renewable Energy Pte
Ltd of Singapore, Maldive Gas installed a hybrid wind
and solar system at its gas plant in Thilafushi in 2005
as a test bed for this technology. The results were
positive and encouraging. Wind speed and direction were
recorded on a daily basis and the wind pattern in the
country was found to be conducive for the operation of
micro wind turbines.
In view of the challenges that lay ahead in the field of
energy, the Maldivian Government explored the
possibility of making renewable energy an integral part
of the nation’s energy sources. Maldive Gas had first
mover advantage in this regard and together with State
Trading Organization Plc and Daily Life Renewable Energy
Pte Ltd won a pilot project
initiated by the Ministry of Energy, Environment and
Water to install and run renewable energy systems on
three islands: H.A. Uligan, M.Raiymandhoo and
G.Dh.Kondey. The systems are to be installed on a
further 100 islands within the next three years if
results of the pilot project are found to be
satisfactory.
The project required considerable investment. As the
parent company of Maldive Gas, State Trading
Organization PLC (“STO”) pledged its support for the
pilot project. STO was keen to be involved in this
project even before its commercial viability was
established because it will bring tangible benefit to
Maldives in the form of sustainable renewable energy
that minimizes its dependency on fossil fuels. In line
with its parent company STO, social responsibility is
high on Maldive Gas’s agenda. Managing Director of STO,
Mohamed Hussain Maniku described it as a project “from
the heart rather than the mind”.
The technical aspect of the pilot project is taken care
by Daily Life Renewable Energy Pte Ltd (“DLRE”) of
Singapore. Based on energy consumption and the
availability of wind and solar energy sources, engineers
from DLRE came up with the world’s first innovative AC
coupled Micro-grid Hybrid Distributed Generation system
combining several small scale wind generators, solar
photovoltaic panels, battery storage, advanced power
electronics equipment and existing diesel generators.
The development and installation of the
wind/solar/diesel hybrid energy system on a micro grid
was done in collaboration with Maldive Gas and equipment
manufacturers such as Southwest Windpower (USA) and
Leonics Ltd (Thailand). This system will offer a
sustainable, cost-effective and low maintenance
alternative to existing power generation by diesel
generators only.
The micro grid system will provide substantial
environmental benefits in the form of higher energy
efficiency achieved through the integration of renewable
sources such as photovoltaic arrays and wind turbines.
Photovoltaic (PV) arrays (which convert sunlight into
electricity) and wind turbine generators have relatively
high initial costs but are very attractive in terms of
operating costs and their negligible effects on the
environment. Hybrid energy systems combine renewable
energy sources with diesel generators and battery
storage to provide a more energy efficient power system
than is possible using either energy source alone. In
addition, the system enjoys a very high degree of
reliability as compared to single-source systems such as
a stand-alone diesel generator or a stand-alone PV or
wind system due to the fact that it employs two or more
different sources of energy.
Maldives made history with the implementation of the
world’s first hybrid AC Coupled Renewable Energy Micro
Grid in H.A.Uligan that will help reduce the dependence
on fossil fuel and toxic emissions, which in turn will
contribute to reduce the effects of global warming.
This project is the beginning of an exciting new
prospect that lies ahead for the people of Maldives and STO and Maldives Gas are proud to be part of it.
|
