Project Management
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is the largest of the REP-5 countries, with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of over 3 million km2, or roughly 75% of the land area of the European Union. However, only 0.02% of that area is covered by land, making transport to outer islands in FSM very difficult. The country is divided in four states: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Kosrae. Kosrae is the only single-island state; the others all have an urbanized capital and rural outer islands.
In 2004, the FSM signed an Amended Compact of Free Association with the United States, which provides funds to the national government's budget until 2023 and establishes a trust fund for use in perpetuity after 2023.
Electricity is regulated at a state level; consequently, there are four electricity utilities, each with its own tariff structures, generation and distribution networks. Of the four utilities, only the one in Pohnpei has hydroelectric generating capacity; the others all rely solely on diesel generators. The Yap utility is the only one that has diesel mini-grids on some of its outer islands; the other utilities operate only on the main islands.
Experience with renewable energy has in the past been with solar home systems for outer islands, solar fridges, solar systems for telecommunication, solar freezer systems and solar pumps, limited wind energy use for water pumping, and small-scale hydroelectricity generation (2 MW on Pohnpei). The wind resource has not been properly assessed, but the hydrological potential of FSM (mainly Pohnpei) has been found to be 6.9 MW. The solar resource, depending on the island, is good to very good (5.5 kWh/m2/day as a yearly average).
The bulk of the REP-5 funding is allocated mainly to the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in all four states. In Yap, Chuuk, and Pohnpei the focus is rural electricifcation of outer islands, whereas on the single-island state of Kosrae the PV systems installed there have been connected to the main utility grid. To see pictures of the off-grid systems, click here.
Renewable energy projects
Federal
Solar lanterns will be provided to outer-island homes in Chuuk and Pohnpei states. This will help households reduce their expenses on kerosene for lighting, and will also reduce the risk of injury or fire caused by kerosene lamps. A total of 3,000 lamps will be distributed; 2,000 will have amorphous PV panels and 1,000 will have polycrystalline panels so that their performance can be compared in a Pacific environment.
The cost of this project is €210,000.
Portable Solar Lantern
Source: Logic Electronics
Yap State
The REP-5 funding for Yap state has seen the installation of a PV-powered mini-grid on Asor and Fadrai islets in Ulithi Atoll. The system on Asor has a PV capacity of 19.3 kWp, a battery capacity of 1850 Ah at 48V, and will provide electricity to all 18 houses and all public buildings. The system on Fadrai is larger, at 28.1 kWp of PV capacity and 2880 Ah of battery capacity at 48V. This system will provide electricity to all 31 houses and all public buildings. The voltage system used is 230V/60 Hz, in order to discourage users from buying appliances on the main island of Yap and overusing the mini-grid (Yap uses the US voltage system, 120V/60Hz). For a more detailed presentation on the Yap mini-grid, click here.
The systems were installed in March 2009, at a cost of €700,000.
PV system on Asor, with battery house (blue roof) and school (white roof)
Source: IT Power
Chuuk State
REP-5 provided 4 outer islands of Chuuk -- Onoun, Moch, Satawan and Udot -- with stand-alone PV systems for schools and dispensaries. There are 4 PV systems, ranging in size from 3.4 to 10.5kWp, for a total of 27 kWp across all four islands. The voltage used for powering appliances is 120V/60Hz.
The PV systems were installed in January and February 2009, at a cost of €350,000
PV system in front of highschool in Onoun
Source: IT Power
PV system on roof of junior high school on Moch
Source: IT Power
Pohnpei State
In Pohnpei State, five outer islands -- Mwoakilloa, Pingelap, Kapingamarangi, Sapwuafik and Nukuoro -- received stand-alone PV systems for schools and dispensaries. There are 5 PV systems, ranging in size from 3.0 to 13.6 kWp, for a total of 48.3 kWp. Onoun has a mini-grid connecting all public buildings, the doctor's house and the school dormitories The voltage used for powering appliances is 120V/60Hz.
The PV systems were installed in January and February 2009, at a cost of €700,000.
PV system on roof of school in Mwoakilloa
Source: IT Power
PV system on roof of school in Pingelap
Source: IT Power
Kosrae State
Kosrae State received a total of five grid-connected PV systems for its airport, legislature, governor's office, hospital, and power plant. All systems were roof-mounted, except the one at the power station that was mounted on a car park shading structure. The systems vary in size from 4.9 to 16.4 kWp, for a total capacity of 52.5 kWp.
The PV systems were installed in September 2008, at a cost of €375,000
16.4 kWp PV system on roof of hospital
Source: IT Power
4.9 kWp PV system on car park shading structure in front of
Kosrae Utilities Authority
Source: IT Power
7.8 kWp PV system on entrance of airport
Source: IT Power
New layer...