RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN ASIA

Transcription

1 RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN ASIA A Regional Research and Dissemination Programme Funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) A Summary of Activities and Achievements in Bangladesh Prof. Md. Nawsher Ali Moral Bangladesh Institute of Technology Khulna Prof. Muhammed Ibrahim Centre for Mass Education in Science House #828, Road #19 (old) Dhanmondi Residential Area, Dhaka Mr. Dewan A.H. Alamgir Grameen Shakti, Grameen Bank Bhaban Mirpur - 2, Dhaka , Bangladesh Energy Program Asian Institute of Technology P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang Pathumthani Thailand

2 RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN ASIA A Regional Research and Dissemination Programme Funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) A Summary of Activities and Achievements in Bangladesh Prof. Md. Nawsher Ali Moral Bangladesh Institute of Technology Khulna 9203 Prof. Muhammed Ibrahim Centre for Mass Education in Science House #828, Road #19 (old) Dhanmondi Residential Area, Dhaka Mr. Dewan A.H. Alamgir Grameen Shakti, Grameen Bank Bhaban, Mirpur - 2, Dhaka , Bangladesh. Energy Program Asian Institute of Technology P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang Pathumthani Thailand

3 Renewable Energy Technologies in Asia Team Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) Programme Coordinator Asian Institute of Technology Bangladesh Cambodia Lao PDR Nepal Philippines Viet Nam : Dr. M.R. Bhagavan Dr. Gity Behravan : Prof. S.C. Bhattacharya : Prof. S.C. Bhattacharya Dr. S. Kumar Energy Program : Mr. Dewan A.H. Alamgir Grameen Shakti (GS) Prof. Muhammad Ibrahim Centre for Mass Education in Science (CMES) Dr. Md. Nawsher Ali Moral Bangladesh Institute of Technology (BIT) : Dr. Sat Samy Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy (MIME) Mr. Chy Cheapok Cambodia Institute of Technology (ITC) : Mr. Pho Muangnalad Science, Technology and Environment Organization (STENO) : Mr. Rajendra Bahadur Adhikari Centre for Renewable Energy (CRE) Prof. Tulsi Prasad Pathak Research Centre for Applied Science and Technology (RECAST) Mr. Gyani Ratna Shakya Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST) : Prof. Rowaldo R. del Mundo University of the Philippines Diliman Dr. Arnold Elepaño University of the Philippines Los Baños : Dr. Pham Khanh Toan Institute of Energy (IE) Mr. Trinh Quang Dung Solar Laboratory (SolarLab)

4 FOREWORD World energy consumption has been growing at an average rate of two percent per year for nearly two centuries. Similar growth is expected to continue in the future. At present, coal, oil and natural gas account for about 77 percent of global primary energy consumption, and growth in energy demand is mostly met through increased supply of these fuels. It is likely that the current pattern of rising conventional energy consumption cannot be sustained in the future because of environmental consequences of heavy dependence on fossil fuels; in particular, because of global warming, urban air pollution and acid rain. At present, a near consensus appears to be emerging that renewable energy technologies (RETs) need to be promoted if global energy supplies are to be placed on an environmentally sustainable path. R&D institutions of developing countries have a vital role in the development, local adaptation and promotion of RETs. These institutions have much to gain from a regional networking with similar institutions in other countries through sharing of experience, joint and coordinated research and study tours. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) sponsored a two-year regional research and dissemination programme, RETs in Asia. The programme was coordinated by the Asian Institute of Technology and involved twelve national research institutions (NRIs) of six Asian countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Philippines and Viet Nam. The overall objective of the programme was to promote the dissemination of a few mature or nearly mature renewable energy technologies in selected Asian countries through adaptation to local requirements and conditions. The programme covered three renewable energy technologies: photovoltaics, solar drying, and biomass briquetting and briquette stoves. This report provides a summary of the activities carried out in Bangladesh within the framework of the RETs in Asia Programme. Prof. S.C. Bhattacharya Prof. Md. Nawsher Ali Moral Dr. S. Kumar Bangladesh Institute of Technology Asian Institute of Technology Prof. Muhammed Ibrahim Centre for Mass Education in Science Mr. Dewan A.H. Alamgir Grameen Shakti i

5 CONTENTS FOREWORD 1. COUNTRY PROFILE: BANGLADESH 1.1 Energy Sector 1.2 Status of Renewable Energy Utilisation 2. REGIONAL PROGRAMME BACKGROUND 3. OUTLINE OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS 3.1 Capacity Building and Technology Transfer 3.2 Adaptive Research 3.3 Field Demonstration and Monitoring 3.4 Dissemination and Training 4. FOLLOW-UP: PHASE II OF THE PROGRAMME 5. CONCLUSION 6. REFERENCES i ii

6 1. COUNTRY PROFILE: BANGLADESH Bangladesh is bordered by India in the east, north and west, by Myanmar in the south-east and by the Bay of Bengal in the south. It has a land area of about 144,000 km 2. In 1996, it had a population of 120 million and a per capita GNP equivalent of US$ 283 (Tradenet SL, 1998). Bangladesh has a primarily agricultural economy and 81% of its population live in rural areas. 1.1 Energy Sector The energy situation in Bangladesh is characterised by low consumption of energy as compared to other Asian countries (Figure 1). The per capita energy consumption in 1995 was about 58 kgoe. Biomass energy sources, including agricultural residues and fuelwood, accounted for 73.1% of the total primary energy consumption. Natural gas, which is an indigenous source of energy in Bangladesh, accounts for 13.2% of the consumption. Bangladesh currently has an estimated proved natural gas reserves of around 310 billion cubic metres in approximately 20 fields (mainly onshore). Figure 2 shows the energy consumption in Bangladesh in 1995 (GS, 1999). Only 16% of the total population (25% in urban areas and 10% in rural areas) have access to electricity. Electricity is generated mainly from natural gas in Bangladesh. As of 1997, the total installed capacity of electricity generation in Bangladesh was 3.3 GW, whereas the available capacity was estimated to be around 2.4 GW (EIA, 1999). 1.2 Status of Renewable Energy Utilisation Many government departments, academic institutions, non-government organisations and private companies are involved in renewable energy technologies. Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), Dhaka University (DU), Bangladesh Institute of Technology (BIT), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Rural Electrification Board (REB), Power Cell of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and Grameen Shakti (GS) have been carrying out various activities related to photovoltaic technology for a long time. Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) and Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) are primarily involved with biogas technology. Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and BIT have some research interests in biomass briquetting technologies Solar Energy The tropical climate of Bangladesh is an advantage to the utilisation of solar energy resources to meet various energy needs. Though sun drying of fruits, fish, vegetables and spices in the open air is one popular use of solar energy, solar drying is also disseminated in Bangladesh through various agencies. Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are gaining acceptance as a technology for electricity generation in remote and rural areas. Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) ran the first PV pilot project at Swandip Island in This project installed a solar-powered beacon light on top of a 1

7 watch-tower, solar-powered refrigerators in a hospital for storing life-saving vaccines, and a solar light and a microphone in the local mosque. However, these were all destroyed during the 1991 cyclone. 1.2 Per Capita Energy Consumption, toe Thailand China Philippines India Viet Nam Bangladesh Lao PDR Nepal Cambodia Figure 1: Per capita conventional energy consumption in selected Asian countries in 1996 (EIA, 1999) 11% 3% Biomass Natural Gas 13% Oil& Coal Electricity 73% Figure 2: Energy consumption in Bangladesh (1995) 2

8 There have been two substantial interventions in Bangladesh in the field of rural electrification through solar PV. These are the solar PV project by Grameen Shakti (GS) and Narshingdi pilot project by the Rural Electrification Board (REB). These projects attempted to provide basic needs such as electric lighting and power for TV or radio. Up to June 1998, GS had sold 376 solar panels with an installed capacity of 15,229 Wp. GS sells the PV systems on credit to rural households; it also trains the customers and maintains the systems. With assistance from the French Government, REB has implemented a solar PV electrification project for rural households and commercial enterprises at a remote island in Narshingdi district. This pilot project serves about 700 households of the island community. The total installed capacity is 62 kw, divided among three battery charging stations (29.4 kwp total installed capacity) (Figure 3) and stand-alone solar home systems (total capacity of 32.6 kwp). The PV systems are owned by REB and the users pay a monthly fee. Figure 3: Installation of PV arrays of 62 kw pilot project at Narshingdi Other applications of PV include water pumping and power for cyclone shelters, hospitals, mosques, institutions and offices. PV systems are also effectively used in income-generating enterprises such as grocery shops, tailoring shops, clinics, restaurants, sawmills, rice mills, cellular phone services, barber shops, bazaars and micro-utilities which sell electricity to customers in the neighbourhood. There are no manufacturers of PV panels in Bangladesh. The accessories are either imported or manufactured in the country by private companies. The government encourages promotion of PV technology by introducing fiscal concessions to the PV industry. However, more commitment and effective policies will strengthen PV promotion and lead to full commercialisation of the technology. 3

9 1.2.2 Biomass Contributing to a trend common to most South Asian countries, biomass sources supply the major share of domestic fuel needs in Bangladesh and hence account for over 70% of the national energy consumption. Agricultural residues supply the major share of biomass fuels while the balance is shared by animal dung and wood fuels. Utilisation of biomass fuel resources is largely inefficient and wasteful. Introduction of biomass briquetting, biogas and improved cook stoves in Bangladesh has attempted to address this problem in the recent past. Biomass briquetting is a relatively new technology in Bangladesh. Mostly, machines of heateddie-screw-press type are used to produce briquettes from rice husk, which is the main raw material. Currently about 900 machines are operating in the country. Biogas energy development in Bangladesh has not achieved a significant penetration yet. Although the installation target of biogas plants during the year was approximately 5,000 units, actual number of installations is not known. A number of improved cook-stoves (ICSs) have been developed in Bangladesh, but the actual dissemination has not yet achieved the desired target due to high cost of these stoves Hydropower Resources Hydro-electricity accounts for 3% of the total electricity consumption in the country. The potential of hydropower sources has not yet been assessed (EIA, 1999) Wind Energy Although a reliable and extensive study on wind energy potential of Bangladesh has not yet been carried out, it appears that wind power is promising in some coastal locations. Grameen Shakti (GS) is currently working on several projects to harness wind energy. In 1997, GS installed a 1 kw wind turbine on a shrimp farm. Several wind-diesel hybrid power stations to generate electricity have been planned to be installed in cyclone shelters and neighbouring households and shops. 2. REGIONAL PROGRAMME BACKGROUND Renewable energy technologies (RETs) often offer the most appropriate way of meeting energy demand in rural and remote areas of developing countries. For example, in places where the electricity supply grid is unlikely to reach in the near future, producing electricity locally based on a renewable energy source is normally the most viable approach of meeting the local electricity demand. 4

10 R&D institutions in developing countries often face a variety of constraints, including a lack of expert manpower and financial resources. A regional network of R&D institutions could play a vital role in the development and promotion of RETs through sharing of experience, study tours, joint and co-ordinated research, information exchange and other activities. The Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida) sponsored a two-year research programme ( ) entitled Renewable Energy Technologies in Asia: A Regional Research and Dissemination Programme (RETs in Asia). The programme was co-ordinated by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and involved twelve national research institutions (NRIs) of six Asian countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Philippines and Viet Nam. The overall objective of the programme was to promote the dissemination of a few mature or nearly mature renewable energy technologies in selected Asian countries through the adaptation of the technologies to local requirements and conditions. The program covered three RETs: photovoltaics, solar drying, and biomass briquetting and briquette stoves (Bhattacharya and Kumar, 1999). 3. OUTLINE OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS In the framework of the programme, activities related to PV and biomass briquetting were carried out in Bangladesh. Grameen Shakti (GS) and Centre for Mass Education in Science (CMES) participated in the PV activities to achieve the following objectives: (i) Adaptive research on balance of systems, principally to rectify and improve existing designs (ii) Demonstration and monitoring of PV systems specific to the country, and (iii) Dissemination and training. To complement the first objective, local engineers and technicians were trained to enhance their skills in independent research on basic PV accessories and their fabrication locally. Bangladesh Institute of Technology (BIT) Khulna participated in the activities related to biomass briquetting to achieve the following objectives: (i) Adaptive research on the development of appropriate prototype machines (ii) Training and dissemination, and (iii) Demonstration and marketing. 3.1 Capacity Building and Technology Transfer Photovoltaics GS and CMES staff attended training programmes to prepare themselves for carrying out adaptive research and training local technicians and entrepreneurs. In April 1997, one person 5

11 each from GS and CMES attended a PV training course at SolarLab in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam (Figure 4). The training included lessons on PV accessories covering installation, operation and maintenance. In the electronics workshop, the participants also gained hands-on experience on designing electronic circuitry and printed circuit boards for PV accessories. Two staff members from GS and two staff members from CMES went on an exchange visit to Katmandu, Nepal, in March During the visit, they also attended the International Technology Transfer cum Training Course on Charge Controllers provided by a private company, the Solar Electricity Company at Kathmandu, and organised by the Center for Renewable Energy (CRE), Nepal. Figure 4: International training course at SolarLab, Viet Nam Biomass Briquetting To facilitate capacity building at BIT Khulna, AIT provided the designs and technology for the manufacture of improved biomass briquetting machines. AIT also conducted a one-month Special Students Programme for training researchers, including one from BIT, on briquetting technology and experiments on raw material pre-heating. As a part of the technology transfer and extension work, a team from the Institute of Energy (Viet Nam) visited BIT for training on the design and fabrication of briquetting machines and screws. 6

12 3.2 Adaptive Research Photovoltaics Imported PV accessories often pose technical problems since in many cases they are not designed for the specific local requirements and operating conditions. Certain PV accessories that are manufactured locally also pose similar technical problems. It thus became necessary that these accessories are modified or adapted to suit the local conditions and requirements, through technology and design improvements. Adaptive research thus formed a key objective of this programme. The process involved careful testing of PV systems and accessories for studying their performance and modifying them to match the demands of the local applications and environment. Figure 5: Research facilities of Grameen Shakti Laboratory Grameen Shakti and CMES worked on the development of high performance, low-cost accessories. They brought out improved DC ballasts, charge controllers and converters after conducting a survey on locally available and imported accessories and subsequent laboratory tests. DC Ballast An improved version of the ballast was produced with CMES design and printed circuit boards (PCBs). These have been used in rural electrification schemes and they produce steady bright light without significant blackening and self-consumption. The production cost of CMES design was TK.100 (US$ 2) and this ballast, together with an ordinary fluorescent tube, provide a lowcost alternative to the expensive ballast-tube package available in the market. 7

13 GS has also designed and fabricated ballasts for 6 W and 8 W lamps in order to overcome frequent failures and blackening of existing lamp sets. Further efforts by GS to develop more efficient DC lamps are continuing with the design of a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) consisting of a locally fabricated inverter and a PL tube. DC-DC Converter This converts the 12 V supply from the PV system to a low voltage supply (3/6/9 V) suitable for radios, cassette players and other low-power electronic equipment in domestic use. But the converters available in the market were inefficient and the need for development of improved designs was recognised by CMES and GS. CMES developed a design based on a single integrated circuit (IC) and installed units made from this design in the field demonstrations. GS has similarly produced their own design for the DC-DC converters. Charge Controller After evaluating the failures and inefficiencies of existing relay-type charge controllers, GS developed new relay type and MOSFET-type designs. GS now produces only the MOSFET type controllers (Figure 6), which are generally preferred over the other. Figure 6: Charge controller produced by Grameen Shakti CMES has developed its own solar charge controllers and uses them in many PV systems Biomass Briquetting Briquetting technology is gaining popularity and shows a high potential for wider use in Bangladesh where an abundant supply of raw material is available. According to a country-wide survey on briquetting machines conducted by BIT Khulna, there are over nine hundred machines in use and 98% of them were manufactured in Bangladesh. Some important specifications of 8

14 these machines are listed in Table 1. The survey also found that most of the machines were running inefficiently due to inferior designs and/or poor operation. The major problem in the machines was the rapid screw wear that resulted in a screw life as short as two hours in some instances. High consumption of electricity raises the operating costs of briquetting machines and new methods need to be adopted for reducing the consumption of electricity. Worn out screws can be repaired by a method of welding using filler metals. Screw wear can also be reduced by applying hard-facing on the screw. BIT carried out extensive work on the selection of filler metals and hard-facing alloys by carefully testing as many as seventy screws. Some hard surfacing alloys have increased the screw life from two hours to eighteen hours, thus reducing the operating costs. Table 1: Technical specifications of heated-die screw- press briquetting machines fabricated in Bangladesh Parameter Dimension Length 1550 mm Width 500 mm Height 1100 mm Weight 750 kg Revolution Motor Power 15 hp, 20 hp, 25 hp Briquette Diameter mm Production capacity kg/hr Raw material Rice husk Testing carried out at BIT shows that heating the rice husk before feeding to the briquetting screw is an effective way of reducing the electricity consumption as well as enhancing the screw life. In a pre-heating set-up fabricated for this purpose at BIT, briquettes were used as fuel in a special briquette-burning stove, and the hot flue gases were used for pre-heating the rice husk. Figure 7: Briquetting screw designed by BIT 9

15 Four improved screw-press type briquetting machines were fabricated by BIT for laboratory and field-testing. 3.3 Field Demonstration and Monitoring Photovoltaics GS has installed ten PV systems (eight in households and two in shops) in rural Tangail to demonstrate the technology (Figure 8). Basic details of these systems are given in Table 2. Table 2: Details of demonstration systems by GS Capacity of system 17 Wp 34 Wp 5 Wp No. of systems Appliances Units Rating (Watt) Fluorescent lamp 2 6 Cassette/ radio - - Fluorescent lamp 2 8 Black & white TV 1 15 Fluorescent lamp 3 8 Black & white TV 1 18 Figure 8: PV light at a watch repair shop 10

16 A PV micro-utility has been installed by CMES to provide lighting to Alok Dihi rural bazaar in Ranir Bandar, Dinajpur. This facility consists of a 400 Wp PV array and a battery bank and powers a single light in each of the forty shops. This demonstration proves that PV systems are an effective alternative to the micro-utilities powered by diesel generators in rural areas. These demonstration systems are regularly monitored in order to ensure their good performance and effectiveness Biomass Briquetting BIT has assembled two briquetting machines in their laboratory for testing and demonstration purposes. Two more machines were installed in rural villages for demonstrating the technology and for popularising the use of briquettes among the village people. 3.4 Dissemination and Training Photovoltaics CMES Training Department, which has extensive experience on solar PV training, has organised many programmes for CMES staff as well as PV users. These include: (i) A general training for seventeen senior technical teachers from CMES centres covering most of the country. (ii) An intensive programme for the staff of some Rural Technology Centres on trouble-shooting and maintenance of local PV systems. (iii) In-situ training on operation and basic maintenance of PV systems for users of solar home systems as well as customers of the PV micro-utility. A well-illustrated source book written in the Bangla language, Solar Electricity: Now Within Our Grip has been prepared by CMES for the benefit of PV trainers, technicians and users alike. This covers basic PV principles, system designing and sizing, installation and maintenance. GS has trained more than two hundred technicians. Training of unemployed youth with high school certificates as certified technicians was aimed at effecting technology transfer, skills development, popularising renewable energy among rural people and employment creation. GS has prepared well-organised training modules for the technicians and the training programme takes three days. A training manual is also available. GS has also trained more than two hundred of its PV customers on the basic operation and maintenance of PV systems. A simple instruction sheet explaining the Dos and Don ts is given to the PV user and a special effort has been taken to involve women in the operation of PV systems. 11

17 3.4.2 Briquetting The BIT briquetting laboratory conducted three training programmes, each of 12 weeks duration (10 hours per week), on the operation and maintenance of briquetting machines to train a total of twenty three persons consisting of operators, technicians, students and potential entrepreneurs. The participants studied the assembly of the machine, operation, and trouble-shooting and repairs. 4. FOLLOW UP: PHASE II OF THE PROGRAMME The second phase of the programme aims at the development, demonstration and dissemination of the three technologies: biomass briquetting and briquette stoves, solar and hybrid drying, and photovoltaics. Thirteen national research institutions (NRIs) in the same six countries as in phase I will participate. Adaptive research on PV by the participating NRIs will mainly involve accessories which were not covered in the first phase of the project. The proposed second phase activities in Bangladesh will be as follows:! Assessment of PV systems and accessories available in Bangladesh! Adaptive research on selected PV systems and components and local development of selected prototype PV systems and appliances! Demonstration and performance monitoring of installed PV systems, and! Dissemination and training programmes for promotion of PV based applications. The proposed activities on biomass briquetting and briquette stoves will cover:! Improvement of screw life by changing the screw profile and die, and improving the surface hardness of the screw! Testing a briquetting machine with a diesel engine as an alternative to the electric motor and a die heated by biomass as an alternative to the electric heater! Testing a briquetting machine with raw materials other than rice husk! Testing, demonstration and dissemination of improved briquetting machines! Testing and dissemination of briquette stoves, and! Capacity building and technology transfer through workshops, training programs and study visits. 5. CONCLUSION The regional networking approach of the RETs in Asia programme has provided an excellent model of project formulation, as well as research and development through collaboration and regional coordination. The first phase of the RETs in Asia programme contributed to local capacity enhancement in Bangladesh through training, technology transfer and adaptive research. 12

18 Field demonstration of PV systems has served a number of purposes: i) improvement in quality of life of local people through introduction of electricity for light, television and radio, ii) creation of local employment opportunities and contribution to income generation, and iii) development of public awareness on renewable energy in and around the demonstration village (Bhattacharya and Kumar, 1999). The main outcome of the PV adaptive research effort was the development of improved accessories that were more suitable to local requirements. Relatively new, rice husk briquetting in Bangladesh is not a well-matured technology. The scope for technology improvement is still large. The work on enhancement of screw life by hard-facing techniques has improved the performance of most common heated-die screw-press briquetting machines. Briquette-burning domestic stoves were also developed as a means of supporting the dissemination of briquetting technology. The second phase of the RETs in Asia Programme is expected to further contribute towards capacity building, adaptive research, field demonstration and dissemination of photovoltaic and briquetting technologies in Bangladesh. 6. REFERENCES Bhattacharya S.C., and Kumar S., 1999, Dissemination of Renewable Energy in Developing Countries: Experiences of A Regional Project in Asia, paper presented in the ISES 99 Solar World Congress, Israel, 4-9 July EIA, 1999, Energy Information Administration, International Energy Database, Department of Energy, USA, March Shakti, Energy Statistics of Bangladesh, Tradenet SL, 1998, TradenetSL Trade Information EDB News Trade Inquiries e-business Trade Statistics. 13

19 For further information, please contact: Prof. S.C. Bhattacharya Coordinator, Renewable Energy Technologies in Asia Phase II Energy Program, School of Environment, Resources and Development Asian Institute of Technology P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang Pathumthani 12120, Thailand Tel: Fax: bhatta@ait.ac.th Prof. Muhammed Ibrahim Executive Director, Centre for Mass Education in Science (CMES) House #828, Road #19 (old) Dhanmondi Residential Area Dhaka , Bangladesh. Tel: Fax: ibrahim@citechco.net Prof. Md. Nawsher Ali Moral Bangladesh Institute of Technology (BIT) Khulna 9203, Bangladesh. Tel: Fax: alibitk@bangla.net Mr. Dewan A.H. Alamgir Grameen Shakti, Grameen Bank Bhaban Mirpur - 2, Dhaka , Bangladesh Tel: Fax: g_shakti@citechco.net