Solar-hydro electricity grids combined for Sabah's rural power development: a potential solution?
Empowering Sabah's Energy Ecosystem: The Journey Towards Rural Electrification
In the heart of Malaysia's Sabah state, a significant shift is underway. The aim is to adopt the proposed SQA framework as a standard, propelling Sabah's energy ecosystem towards growth. This transformation is being spearheaded by various local non-governmental organisations, including Tonibung, as part of the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 [1][2].
Tonibung, founded in 1997, started as a non-profit organisation providing odd jobs and casual work requiring technical skills. Today, it stands at the forefront of rural electrification efforts, overseen by its founder, Adrian Banie Lasimbang. Recently, Lasimbang refitted a microgrid in Terian Village with solar panels, making it a hybrid system [3].
The benefits of solar power are undeniable. It can be deployed faster and is modular, making it an ideal solution for rural areas. In Kampung Buayan, the village now boasts commercial anchor users, such as carpentry and tapioca grinding workshops, justifying the presence of the mini-grid and contributing to the village's economy [4]. Moreover, the villagers can now access appliances like freezers, fans, and lights, significantly reducing costs [5].
However, the challenges of using solar installations in rural areas are not insignificant. Logistical difficulties in safely disposing of or recycling solar waste, environmental impacts from mining raw materials, technical integration challenges, costs associated with maintaining and replacing batteries, and variability and reliability issues are all factors that need to be addressed [6].
Tonibung addresses these challenges by adopting a hybrid solar-hydro system approach. They implement hybrid grids that combine continuous river flow micro-hydro (providing stable baseload power, especially at night) with solar panels (offsetting power drops during dry or low-flow periods) [7]. This approach reduces reliance on batteries, extends battery lifespan, and lowers replacement costs.
Work on SabahRE2's "demonstration phase" has begun, setting up village microgrids in Kinabatangan and Ulu Papar, and another two more in Tongod and Sipitang districts [8]. The Terian project, Tonibung's first hybrid retrofit, has already shown promising results, enhancing the resilience, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of rural electrification [9].
The steady supply of electricity has improved the educational environment for children in Kampung Buayan's primary school. SabahRE2 has mapped 206 villages without electricity and aims to install 168 microgrid systems across these villages by 2030 [10].
Despite the progress, challenges remain. The current governance framework poses a challenge due to communication and streamlined efforts being needed across the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development [11].
As the journey towards rural electrification continues, Tonibung remains committed to integrating traditional practices with new concepts like maintenance and systems management to better engage the community in micro hydro or hybrid projects [12]. The organisation is part of an initiative parallel to the state government's rural supply program and has undertaken feasibility studies for 57 communities [13].
With funding for the rural electrification project and its Safety and Quality Assurance (SQA) Framework still being sought, the future of Sabah's energy ecosystem looks bright, one village at a time.
References: [1] Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sabah.gov.my/index.php/sabah-energy-roadmap-and-master-plan-2040
[2] SabahRE2. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sabahre2.org/
[3] Adrian Banie Lasimbang, Tonibung's founder, oversees projects and recently refitted a microgrid in Terian Village with solar panels, making it a hybrid system.
[4] The village of Kampung Buayan now has commercial anchor users, such as carpentry and tapioca grinding workshops, which justify the presence of the mini-grid and contribute to the village's economy.
[5] Kampung Buayan's micro grid system has expanded from a 10kW system in 2022 to a 40kW system, supported by the United Nations Development Programme and Tonibung. The village of Kampung Buayan, powered by a micro grid, now has access to appliances like freezers, fans, and lights, significantly reducing costs.
[6] The key challenges of using solar installations in rural areas in Malaysia include: logistical difficulties in safely disposing of or recycling solar waste, environmental impacts from mining raw materials for solar panels and batteries, technical integration challenges when combining solar (direct current, DC) with existing micro-hydro systems that generate alternating current (AC), costs associated with maintaining and replacing batteries over time, and variability and reliability issues, such as solar power reducing during periods of low sunlight or drought.
[7] Tonibung addresses these challenges by adopting a hybrid solar-hydro system approach: they implement hybrid grids that combine continuous river flow micro-hydro (providing stable baseload power, especially at night) with solar panels (offsetting power drops during dry or low-flow periods).
[8] Work on SabahRE2's "demonstration phase" has begun, setting up village microgrids in Kinabatangan and Ulu Papar, and another two more in Tongod and Sipitang districts.
[9] The Terian project, Tonibung's first hybrid retrofit, has already shown promising results, enhancing the resilience, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of rural electrification.
[10] SabahRE2 has mapped 206 villages without electricity and aims to install 168 microgrid systems across these villages by 2030.
[11] Rural electrification could see faster progress in Malaysia, but the current governance framework poses a challenge due to communication and streamlined efforts being needed across the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development.
[12] Tonibung focuses on integrating traditional practices with new concepts like maintenance and systems management to better engage the community in micro hydro or hybrid projects.
[13] Tonibung is part of an initiative parallel to the state government's rural supply program and has undertaken feasibility studies for 57 communities.
- Tonibung's efforts towards rural electrification are part of a larger ambition to transition Sabah's energy ecosystem via the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040, advocating for the SQA framework as a standard.
- Renewable energy, specifically solar, plays a significant role in Tonibung's rural electrification projects, with its benefits including faster deployment and economic contributions in villages like Kampung Buayan.
- The shift towards clean energy, however, presents challenges such as solar waste disposal, environmental impacts, technical integration, costs, and reliability issues.
- To tackle these challenges, Tonibung employs a hybrid solar-hydro system approach, complementing solar power with micro-hydro during low sunlight or dry periods to reduce battery dependence and costs.
- This approach is being demonstrated through projects like SabahRE2, which has initiated microgrid installations in villages like Kinabatangan and Ulu Papar.
- The integration of science and technology in environmental-science projects, like rural electrification, alongside industry financing and community engagement, is critical for achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and a successful energy transition.
