Off-grid

Dendro
Power
Sri Lanka
About 1 - 1.5 million
households in Sri Lanka will
be left without grid-
connected electricity.
Off-grid electricity generating
technologies

The approximate cost comparison

Installation costs per 1kW

Micro-hydro Rs 200,000
Dendro Rs 300,000
Bio-gas Rs 300,000
Wind Rs 600,000
Solar PV Rs 1,000,000
Step 1: Moneragala District participatory
workshop for sensitising the district
government officials, community based
organisations and farmer groups - Nov 2001

Step 2: Pre-feasibility studies in four off-grid

villages

Step 3: Cross checking with CEB grid

extension plans

Step 4: Selection of a village for the feasibility

study
Pilot Dendro
Power Project
in
Wadakahakiula
Overall objective of the feasibility study

To examine whether necessary social conditions

for setting up the proposed pilot plant exist in the
village of Wadakahakiula.
An implementation plan should be developed
with the active participation of intended
beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
Wadagahakiula Project feasibility study: 2002
December
Necessary conditions

• Social acceptability of the community

• Availability of the infrastructure for operation
and maintenance of the plant,
• Affordability of majority of the population to
pay for electricity,
• Enthusiasm of the community
• To identify fuel-wood species
• To assess the availability of fuel-wood in
required quantities for operation of the dendro
power plant.
• To assess the potential for growing the fuel-wood
if required
Necessary conditions

• To review and select the most appropriate energy

conversion technology
• To develop preliminary design of the dendro
powered electrification system
• To develop, the institutional mechanisms necessary
for implementation and post implementation
management
• To prepare cost estimates of the project
• To establish a tariff structure for sustainable
operation and management of the power plant
 Study Methodology

• Social assessment – 2day participatory workshop with 60 households

• Questionnaire based survey of all households – survey carried out by
selected village members
• Fuelwood survey – based on field assessment.
• Distribution system design – based on field survey
• Siting of powerhouse – based on technical and social concerns
• Institutional and management system – developed through a
participatory workshop
 Profile of the Village
• Suggested by CEB Uva office
• Situated in Badalkumbura DS area
• 3 km away from grid
• Permanent houses – 38%
• Semi-permanent houses – 36%
• Temporary houses – 26%
• Main source of income – Pepper cultivation (68% of
households)
• Land ownership – 1 to 3 acres per household (74%)
• Average monthly income – Rs.6000 per household
• Current monthly expenditure on energy –
approximately Rs.500 per household
 Project Profile
• No. of beneficiary households – 100
• Max. demand – 250W per house
• Period of electricity demand – 5 to 7am and 6 to 10pm
• Main uses of electricity – lighting, TV, Radio, iron
• Technology – Gasifier system
• Mode of operation – 100% gas
• Fuelwood type – Gliricidia (Nanchi)
• Fuelwood availability – widely grown in the village for
fencing and pepper planting
 Major Conclusions from the
Feasibility Study
• Community participation is active however there are no well
established CBOs exist in the village.
• Priority list 1- education 2- unemployment 3- electricity
• Willingness to obtain electricity – 94% of the households.
• Opportunities exist to initiate income-generating activities.
• Affordability of households to pay for electricity is high. At
least 90% of the households are able become its direct
beneficiaries.
• Availability of natural, human and financial resources is high.
• Fuelwood supply from existing plantations is more than
enough for the plant.
• Dendro technology is mature for deployment in a village
scheme.
Social Risks predicted
• Grid electricity may come to the
village through political
interventions.
• In the event of grid electricity is
provided to the village, potential
to access grid electricity is high
because of the high affordability
among people.
Project Parameters
Buildings
Power house (L x W x H) - 18m x 6m x 6m
Project Parameters
Buildings
Fuel wood store - 12m x 6m x 4m
Project Parameters
Buildings
Well (Diameter x depth) - 5m x 6m
Project Parameters
Distribution lines
Concrete Poles - 450 nos.
Three phase length - 600 m
Two phase length - 400 m
Single phase length - 8100 m
Service cables (Insulated) - 4000 m
Area targeted electrified - 2 km radius
Distribution losses @ 15% net - 4.5 kW
Per h/h power allocation - 250 W
Cables 1,352,622.00
Poles 1,021,500.00
Labor 112,935.00
Other 51,926.00
Total 2,538,983.00
Project Parameters
Power plant capacity - 35 kW
Net out put - 30 kW
Prime Generator - 10 kVA

Machinery
System Installation
Electrical equipment and installation
Accessory Diesel Gen set
 Summary - Project Expenses (SLRs)

A. Feasibility study 778,077.43

B. Building construction 1,480,939.40
C. Distribution lines 2,538,983.00
D. Machinery installation 3,416,400.00
E. Administrative expenses 1,222,078.30
Total 9,436,478.13
E. Community Contribution 393,950.00
Contributors SLRs

1. UNDP - GEF/SGP 4,226,284.81

2. Ministry of Science and Technology (Machinery) 2,660,000.00

3. RERED 1,800,000.00

Project Preparation 600,000.00

Co-financing 1,200,000.00

4. Uva PC (Cables) 500,000.00

5. EF 250,193.32

Total 9,436,478.13
Dendro Power plant
Project Parameters
No of households
Planned - 100
Currently connected - 58
Total h/h requirements - 25 kW
Operation hours per day - 6 hours (4.45 a.m. to 6.45 a.m. &
6.30 p.m. to10.30 p.m.)
Fuel wood species - Gliricidia Sepium
Fuel wood requirement - 60kg/ hr
Fuel wood supplying area (Existing Plantations) - 2 km radius
Running Cost
1. Month - 15th April to 14th May 2005 (58 families)
Operating hours - 4 hours (6.30 pm to 10.30 pm)
Fuel wood - Rs. 11,250
Diesel (3Lts / hr) - Rs. 2,000
Wages - Operator & Helper - Rs. 11,000
Maintenance fund - Rs. 5,000
Society - Rs. 1,000
Total - Rs. 30,250
Monthly Electricity bill per household - Rs. 356 (84 houses)
Average income per household for supplying fuel wood - Rs. 70

2. Estimated cost for the month 15th May 2005 to 14th June 2005
Operating hours - 6 hours
Fuel wood - Rs. 16,875
Diesel (3Lts / hr) - Rs. 4,000
Wages - Operator & Helper - Rs. 15,625
Maintenance fund - Rs. 5,000
Society - Rs. 1,000
Total - Rs. 42,500
 Fuel wood
Monthly Electricity bill per household - Rs. 500
Price of fuel wood at Farm gate - Rs. 200/ m3; Rs. 1/ kg
Price of fuel wood at Power house gate - Rs. 375/m3; Rs
1.88/kg
Monthly payment for fuel wood transportation - Rs. 7,875
Average income per household for supplying fuel wood - Rs. 106
Issues
•The confrontation between the fuel wood supplier and the
farmers.
•President of the society did not get the electricity from the
system
•Rumor - politicians promises for grid
electricity supply
• Plant is not for the community but for
the EF -being a fully funded project
•The consumers concerns on high
electricity bill
•Resentment among some of the
consumers regarding the operator and
helper
•The enthusiasm among the others in
the dendro sector regarding the project
Affordability of the households to pay for electricity
Total monthly cost incurred by a rich family on three energy
items (Kerosene, dry battery and car battery) is
approximately Rs.563/-
An average family, the monthly cost is around Rs.521/-.
The poor families spend approximately Rs.293/- per month.

At least the rich and the average families who constitute the
majority of the families in the three hamlets are able to
afford to pay for their electricity consumption if the cost to
be incurred by them is in the range of Rs.400-500 per month.

If other social benefits that a household would accrue from

using electricity such as better lighting, reduced risks of
accidents, use of other electric appliances, social status etc.
are also added to this economic cost, household expenditure
on electricity is very much compensated and justified.
Possible options

•Allow the community to explore the possibility of grid

extension
•Allow the community to explore the possibility of getting
subsidy from any agency
•Forget injustice and have a compromise with the supplier
•Explore the possibility of introducing an income generating
activity using day time power to lift the burden on the
consumer

Please give us 3 more months to rectify the situation.

Possible future options for off-grid dendro power

(We have a market of 20,000 villages)

• Try to establish a household level electrical appliance

package to reduce the capacity
• Try to integrate an income generating activity at the initial
stage itself
• Follow the grid connected dendro and approach the off-grid
villages which provide fuel wood to grid dendro plant