PV HYBRID ELECTRIFICATION ON FLOREANA ISLAND, GALPAGOS: FIRST EXPERIENCES OF SERVICE OPERATION X. Vallv, O. Gavald, I. Vosseler, E.

Ramirez Trama Tecnoambiental S.L. C/Ripolls 46 - 08026 Barcelona - Catalunya Tel. +34 93 4463234, Fax +34 93 4566948 tta@tramatecnoambiental.es www.tramatecnoambiental.es J. M. Carreras Asociacin SEBA C/Mallorca 210 - 08008 Barcelona - Catalunya Tel +34 93 4463232, Fax +34 93 456 69 48 sebaasoc@suport.org www.seba.es

The Galapagos islands in Ecuador are Natural Park since 1959. Four of these are inhabited and about 5 million litres of diesel per year are shipped 1000km from the mainland to generate electricity. This could be representative of other parts of the world. Floreana, the smallest inhabited island has 173km2 and about 200 inhabitants; a diesel genset microgrid was operating in the only village of the island (Puerto Velasco Ibarra), 13h per day. The operating scheme for the electric service is representative of a situation where the users pay a standard grid tariff, and the electric utility (EEPG) is sustained through a cross-subsidy of 25.000 US$ per year. Some users in the island are far from the grid and not connected. Small businesses have to operate their own gensets to complement the existing schedule. With funding mainly from the Parque Nacional Galapagos of Ecuador and support to the European NGO SEBA from AECI and the EC, a project for the implementation of Sustainable infrastructures in Floreana has been executed with the objective to reduce substantially the operational deficit, to offer electricity service to ALL potential users 24 hours a day and to reduce substantially the dangerous fuel transports. So, in the late 2003 a MSG (Multi User Hybrid Grid) was commissioned in Puerto Velasco Ibarra which gives electricity service to 54 users by a 18 kWp PV generator backed by the existing diesel gensets. The scattered houses are supplied with individual stand-alone PV systems with a total of 5,9 kWp. This new service approach with PV hybrid technology is supposed to create yearly savings of nearly 20.000 US$ based on a life-cycle analisys compared with the previous generation scheme by genset. The most important aspects of project implementation are that all users are contractually linked to the energy operator in a unified tariff scheme with segmented flat rated monthly fees (whether connected to the MSG or supplied by individual systems), standard grid-equivalent electricity service for everybody 24 hrs/day and that energy dispenser/meters assure demand side management. In this paper we present the first experiences from service operation, successful outcomes and difficulties encountered during the execution. Main results will be addressed as follows: o Social acceptance of the tariff scheme assured by the energy dispenser/meter. o Performance of the PV hybrid system and the individual PV plants. o First evaluations of operation and maintenance done by the energy operator. o Good acceptance of the social support and training scheme. Keywords : Developing countries, Rural electrification, Hybrid. 1.INTRODUCTION
Integral action of the different actors in Rural Electrification with Renewable Energies Projects

In the Galapagos Islands, the existence of a highly fragile ecosystem and rich biodiversity require special environmental protection. The current electricity service is based on the shipment of over 5 million l/year of fuel, to be used locally by generators. This transport is wholly subsidised by the Ecuadorian government and it causes both economic and environmental problems. The accident which occurred in January 2001, when 720,000 litres of fuel were spilled, was a serious warning . The island of Floreana consumed only 41,700 l/year of diesel and had an operational deficit of around US$ 25,000 per year for a population of about 200 Because of its characteristics, it was chosen as the ideal site for an integral pilot solar electrification experience for islands. The project has gone through the various steps any rural electrification project goes through[1], mentioned in figure 1 diagram. At this moment, we are in the phase of Operation and Maintenance, since the service has partially been going on for three months.

1st visit
2 TECHNICAL NEEDS IDENTIFICATION
- Social, technical and economic feasibility - Financing mechanisms

nd

visit
4 IMPLEMENTATION

1
SOCIAL NEED IDENTIFICATION
Implication from local institutions!

3 TECHNICAL DESIGN

- Works execution
- Local technicians and users capacitation.

- Installation Project
ellaboration - Participation of local institutions and users

Key :
Social task

5 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE (technical monitoring) ADAPTABILITY RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION (social monitoring) TO

Technical task END OF PROJECT New social need? - Improvement of the system - Replication of the system

NO
3 visit
rd

YES

HAVE WE SATISFIED THE SOCIAL NEED?

6 EVALUATION - quality of the technical service - degree of social satisfaction

Figure 1 : Integral rural electrification project structure

2. MANAGEMENT PROCESSES EXPLOITATION MODEL

AND

After the first two phases, we built a management structure that was flexible enough to cope with the difficulties we knew that would exist, as well as participative enough to involve all the institutional and local actors (the users themselves). The associate management process was the base for our proceeding. The result of the structure was the following:
Management Comitee Galpagos Nacional Park Association SEBA ELECGALAPAGOS S.A. Junta Parroquial de Floreana (users)

Ownership: PV hybrid plants will be owned by an I.P.P. company set up specifically for this purpose shared between the Island Council and EEPG. This new company will be an independent generator, selling energy deliverability to the existing distribution company, and will also be responsible for the plants operation and maintenance (O&M) and management. CONELEC (national regulating agency) will continue to monitor quality of service to users. 3. TECHNICAL IMPLEMENTATION PHASE As we stated before, technical and social implementation of rural electrification projects must be the two sides of the same coin, or the projects can easily fall apart. In this chapter we summarise all the work done in technical aspects, which will be later complemented by the social aspects. The Floreana project has had three implementation phases : generation, civil works and buried distribution. All of them three have been divided into different blocks, which have been executed by local firms with local materials, in turn-key contracts. All the changes during the evolution of the project have been approved by the management comitee. 3.1 Electrification phase The first visits had detected a poor and weak electric service in Floreana. Electricity supply in main village, Puerto Velasco Ibarra, was a grid with two generators (60 and 145 kVA), a 13,800V high-voltage line, a 110V low-voltage grid and four transformers .In 1999, energy losses in distribution were 21%. Service was 12 hours per day to 32 families. In the Farming Zone at the centre of island, there were 12 potential customers with no electricity. The final design has obbeyed to the universal model for rural electrification (quote). We decided to supply people in Puerto Velasco Ibarra , who were close enough, with a microgrid and people of the Hihglands (more than 12 km from PVI) with two small microgrids (one of them with wind energy as a complement) and two small autonomous individual PV systems. Hihglands-farming area In the hihglands, the microgrids supplied dwellings that used to have small gensets to survive. In the Farming Zone 3 stand-alone PV systems are installed and two small MSG for two farmhouses each. Farming activities in the assigned zones are essential to reduce food imports from the mainland avoiding the introduction of harmful species..

Executive Unit Director of S.C. office GNP Representative for SEBA

Technical areas

Coordination and logistics Responsible (TTA) Support personnel (TTA)

Distribution Responsible (ELECGALAPA GOS)

Generation Responsible (TTA) Assisted by (ELECGALAPA GOS) (Cooperant)

Civil Works Responsable (TTA) Assisted by (PNG)

Users training

Responsible (TTA)

Figure 2 : Management structure of the project The management comitee (owner of the project) consists of a member of the future operator, Elecgalapagos, a representative of the Spanish NGO SEBA, a representative of the National Parc Galapagos, cofinancer of the project, and a representative of the users. The management comitee was in charge of the trimestral budget and timetable approval, as well as main decisions relating to the exploitation model of the system. Under them, the executive unit (a member of the Park and a member of SEBA), was in charge of the day-to-day management of the project. The executive unit directed a group of technical areas, chosen according to the needs of the project (generation, civil works, distribution, coordination and logistics, capacitation). As for the exploitation model, there have been several meetings with the national institutions (CONELEC, the regulating authority, CENACE, tariff control center) , because Floreana is the first Galapagos island to be reelectrified with renewable energies, being it the model to follow for UNDP, who is in charge of electrification of the rest. Although the final legal scheme is not completely defined, it has been agreed that the decided model is based on a mutual control model with shared participation of the community and the current electricity supply operator, managed technically and economically by the energy operator A basic aspect of the future exploitation is the tariff scheme. The final decision has been to opt for a system of electricity flat rate tariffs by load segment has been established. Besides promoting energy saving, this will also help reduce operating costs and simplify administrative costs.

Figure 3 : Small microgrid and two technicians giving the light to a new Farming area user Puerto Velasco Ibarra

In Puerto Velasco Ibarra, A Multi-user Solar-hybrid Grid (MSG) was designed to produce electricity for up to 54 users (homes, church, hotel). Since a support structure for PV panels and solar installation equipment had to be built and the population detected a strong need for a common center, a building with community purposes was built. The building where the PV array and the BoS are installed will be used as a meeting place for residents and an information centre for visitors (fig. 1 and 2), as well as offering the perfect place for all ludic activities for the community.

process has allowed a better adaptability in the service, but it was necessary to make a ground work for the service to offer adequate guarantees. The social implementation campaign (training) had as a major reference the technical implementation of the Project, and divided the activities among BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER the technical works. The actuations in the social implementation were divided in five major modules: 1. Users sensibilisation campaign (BEFORE), the activities of which were focused in information seminars (6 general meetings), participative workshops (5 support brigades meetings) , dissemination acts (8 local media news and TV programs), local racional use of energy campaigns (6 works in group) Users and technicians training for the Operation and Maintenance of the cheme (DURING AND AFTER) Users : i. 6 individualised workshops ii. 6 group workshops, iii. 4 workshops depending on the location of the dwelling (individual systems, small MSG or PVI MSG) iv. 3 workshops with children, v. 2 participative gender talks (solar cook , electricity dangers) b. Local technicians, i. 1 technical workshop in Barcelona for two Elecgalapagos technicians ii. 1 technical workshop in Floreana during the installation iii. 1 technical workshop for an expert in electronics in Barcelona. Strengthening of local institutions (BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER) The San Cristobal Council and the Junta Parroquial de Floreana are the gathering agents of population. As much as the former holds the effective political power, the latter is the one in contact with population, whose decisions are agreed by all inhabitants of Floreana. The project has helped them with several training sessions in administrative matters and the elaboration of a draft for an internal regulation for the future belongings of JPF. a.

2.

Figure 4 : Multiuse building in Puerto Velasco Ibarra, integrated to the surrounding colours. 3.2 Civil Works The main streets of Puerto Velasco Ibarra were not well limited, and the road leading to the Farm area was in awful conditions. Besides, the population in Floreana had no meeting center but the school. The project helped fix the state of the streets and roads and through the building of a Multi-use center has habilitated a place where the neighbours can meet. 3.3 Dinstribution For such a fragile ecosystem, we decided to bury the electric distribution, which has changed from middle voltage to low voltage (reduction in potential accidents danger). As for distriubtion, we have established, as welll, One a unicque scheme for everybody in the island, whichever source of energy they use. In this each dwelling has a dispenser-meter, which limits the daily available energy by each family

3.

5.TECHNICAL MONITORING

AND

SOCIOECONOMIC

The scheme also includes socio-economic and technological monitoring stages. Evaluation of the quality of service is being managed by EEPG based on recording technical data (integrated into equipment) and non-technical information. Figure 5 :Technician fixing indoor installation and mounting a dispenser-meter in a Floreana dwelling Moreover, the structure of the project is helping Elecgalapagos in the follow-up of the operation of the system. One follow-up visit has already been done, in which the local technicians have been deepening their knowledge of the system and ability in reference to trouble shooting. As for the data to evaluate, at the moment, three months after the installation of the first systems,

4. SOCIAL IMPLEMENTATION PHASE As for the adaptability to service for users and managers),the joint participation in all the project

we have downloaded data from the longest-working installation, El Trbol. The following figures show the installation is working at a partial load and hence batteries are maintaining a perfect State of Charge level.

7.CONCLUSIONS 1. The participative approach has implied great difficulties in the management but it has been really useful for the involvement of the people in Floreana The standard of living is already being improved in Floreana Environmental impact of the human being in Floreana has been greatly reduced with the implementation of the project It is necessary to finish the evaluation phase and use Floreana as a model for the other three inhabited Galapagos islands and for other rural electrification potential programs, with a strong dissemination campaign.

2. 3.

4.

Figure 6 : Daily summary of energy consumption and production and SOC of batteries

8. REFERENCES [1] P.Arranz, E.Ramrez : Course on social actuations for technological innovation, Barcelona, May 2003 [2] Combined European research and demonstration project on multi-user solar hybrid grids : NNE5/1999/483 [3] X. Vallv, G. Gafas, Proyecto Integral de Infraestructuras para la sostenibilidad de la Isla Floreana, 2002. [4] I.Vosseler, X. Vallv, G. Gafas, International Experience with hybrid systems: Energy Management in Communities, Workshop on PV Hybrid Systems, Montreal, Septiembre 2001. [5] P. Schweizer-Ries et al : Success factors in PVHybrid systems for off-grid power supply, Aix-enProvence PV-hybrid conference , 2000 [6] X. Vallv, E. J. de Cisneros, J. Serrasolses et al., Experiencias y primeros resultados de la electrification de ncleos rurales en Spain con Micro-redes elctricas con Generacin Solar hbrida (MGS), Congresso Ibrico 2002, Algarve, 2002.

Figure 7 : Monthly summary of energy production and consumption and SOC of batteries 6. EVALUATION Socio-economical evaluation is probably the most important task in our project. It is the phase leading us to the question have we satisfied the social needs?. At the moment, although the final evaluation hasn been t done as yet, the first productive activities thanks to electricity are being carried out. As an example, a user in the farming area is growing chicks in an electric egg machine. The evaluation phase will be done through the analysis and evaluation of the quality of service in six months time, with a thorough social and technical audit , which will be carried out by the technical personnel of the project .

Figure 8 : First PV chicks in Floreana farming area