Maldives:

The proposed concept in this study is subjected to congested areas where there is a need for
speed breakers and having a smooth traffic flow with low rate of traffic jams. As for an example,
the congested capital of Maldives, Male’, where traffic is continuous throughout the day and
speed breakers has to be often dealt with. Based on the concept, prototypes and small scaled
energy harvesting devices are being utilized around the world. The proposed project can derive
components from other mechanisms such as hybrid cars, hand cranked lamps and handheld
generators, which convert kinetic energy to electrical energy. From these mechanisms, the
proposed energy harvesting system has the potential to be developed to a large scale, viable
system, which can generate enough electricity.
This study aims to achieve the objective to deduce an estimated magnitude of the theoretical
potential energy harvested from the energy harvesting system if the proposed system is put in
to function. This study also identifies a suitable energy harvester mechanism to install in Male,
Maldives, which carries the potential to reduce carbon emissions. Simulation has been carried
out to estimate the amount of carbon emissions that can be reduced by an energy harvesting
speed breaker. The outcome of this study seeks to present an overview of potential reduction
through energy harvesting speed breaker in honoring the Maldivian governments target to
achieve carbon neutrality by the year 2020.

Study area:
Capital of Maldives, Male’ was chosen as study area. The capital city, Male’, caters 103,693
residents (Department of national planning, 2006) over a small area of roughly 6 km2 making it
among one of the most densely populated areas in the world (Dermographia, 2012). The active
lifestyle and work ethics of the citizens living in the capital heavily utilizes vehicles for
transportation through the city.
As shown in Table 1, the population of the country being 338,400 (World Bank 2012) and out of
103,693 are living in the capital city, Male’, where almost one third of the country’s population
lives in the capital. Male’ is among the world’s most densely populated city making a population
density figure of 17,500 residents per square kilometer (Dermographia, 2012). The capital is the
hub for trade and commerce and where most of the businesses take place. It is assumed that
the majority portion of vehicles authorized in Maldives is utilized in the Male’ area. Due to the
heavy traffic load and the structure of the road network, the Ministry of Transportation have
set the speed limit to 25 km/h (6.94ms-¹) in Male’ (Transport, 2009). Speed breakers have been
placed throughout the city to limit over speeding in the congested city; therefore, the city fulfils
the previously stated criteria and could be described as an ideal location for such a mechanism.
According to Transport Authority (27th November 2011), Maldives has 51,361 registered
vehicles (Transport Authority, 2011). Regarding the stated characteristics of Male’ area and the
features require for the optimum productivity of the proposed system; Male’ can be deduced
as an ideal location for the implementation of the project.

Total power produced

Estimated potential power which can be produced by the proposed system from the analyzed
three working days of 12th, 13th and 14th March 2013. which were 5,150, 3755 and 4,259 kW
of power, respectively. The values are averaged out to get a value which can represent a typical
working day. The average of the three days was 4388.5 kW of power per working day.
Estimated potential power which can be produced by the proposed system from the analyzed
two government holidays of 15th (Friday) and 16th (Saturday) March 2013, which are 2,347.6
kW and 3,362 kW of power, respectively. By comparing the total Power produced in working
days, the potential power produced during holidays is lower due to the traffic volume recorded
is lower during the holidays.

Estimated potential diesel saved

The total estimated amount of diesel which could be saved from the potential power produced
by the proposed energy harvesting system from the analyzed working days of 12th, 13th and
14th March 2013; which are 1,337.8, 975.4 and 1,106.5 liters of diesel respectively (see Figure
5). The values are averaged out to get a value which can represent a typical working day. The
average of the three days was 1139.9 liters of diesel per working day. Figure 6 describes the
total estimated amount of diesel which could be saved from the potential power produced by
the proposed energy harvesting system from the analyzed government holidays of 15th
( Friday) and 16th (Saturday) March 2013; which were 609.8 and 873 liters of diesel
respectively.

Estimated amount of potential carbon emissions saved

(Working days)
The total estimated amount of potential carbon emissions which could be saved by the energy
harvesting system from the analyzed working days of 12th, 13th and 14th March 2013, which
were 3,090.2, 2,253 and 2,556 kg of carbon emissions, respectively. The values are averaged
out to get a value which can represent a typical working day. The average of the three days was
2,633 kg of carbon emissions per working day. Total estimated amount of potential carbon
emissions which could be saved by the energy harvesting system from the analyzed holidays of
15th (Friday) and 16th (Saturday) March 2013, which were 1,408.5 and 2,017.2 kg of carbon
emissions, respectively.