Given by Chen Shiun, PhD The second in our series of workshops designed to gather input from stakeholders involved in existing off-grid projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America. This event is workshop scheduled to be held in Malaysia for the ASEAN countries will be organised by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

1. Rural Electrification in Sarawak
Smart Village Workshop, UNIMAS
27-29 Jan 2015
Chen Shiun, PhD.
General Manager, Research & Development

2. Rural Infrastructure Development
Housing, Road, Water & Electricity
Engaging multiple ministries and agencies
• Federal Ministry of Rural and Regional Development: funding and project
management
• State ministries: project coordination:
• Ministry of Public Utilities: grid connections
• Ministry of Rural Development: off-grid schemes
• Sarawak Energy Berhad (state-owned utility company):
• Planning and technical advisor (engineering & design)
• Eventual asset owner; undertake operation and maintenance
Financial arrangements for rural electrification in Sarawak
• CAPEX for grid and off-grid schemes: Federal ministry
• OPEX for rural grid lines: Sarawak Energy
• OPEX for off-grid schemes: Federal ministry

3. • Urban/rural ratio 52%:48% with 1.2 million people living in
rural settings: 6,235 villages, about 200,000 homes
• 2,216 (36%) of villages yet to have 24-hr electricity
– Some 40,000 homes and 250,000 people
70.9%
72.4%
78.2%
81.0%
85.1%
86.4%
89.1%
90.8%
92.5%
94.2%
95.8%
70.0%
75.0%
80.0%
85.0%
90.0%
95.0%
100.0%
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
CoveragePercentage
Rural Electrification Coverage by Households

4. Kuching
Sibu
Bintulu
Miri
• 4 major cities interconnected by T&D network
• Multiple new T&D lines under construction
• Areas supplied are according to T&D network
• With 24-hr electricity (4019 villages)
• Without 24-hr electricity (2216 villages)

5. Rural Schools
• Schools connected to grid
• Remote schools (289) utilizing diesel
• Mostly small with 6-10 classes,
but with student hostels & staff quarters
Kuching
Sibu
Bintulu
Miri

6. A typical situation
Each household run their own diesel generator set for 2-3
hours of electricity in each evening, at great expense
Ministry of Education provides rural schools with diesel
generator sets and diesel fuels for classrooms and quarters
Ministry of Health runs rural clinics with electricity using
own diesel generator sets and diesel fuels

7. 7
Cluster 5
Cluster 4
Cluster 3
Batang Ai Upstream
1 school, 6 villages
92 hh, ~522 people
2 villages
40 hh, ~188 people
4 schools, 50 villages
829 hh, ~5000 people

8. Lack of proper access hampers
construction and eventual
operation and maintenance
Sparsely distributed villages
means numerous small systems
(little economy of scale)
Few activities and limited
opportunities makes rural areas
unattractive to technically skilled
Lack of other infrastructures and
amenities such as water supply
and telecommunications
Financial constraint limits
progress (off-grid schemes
costing RM200k / household)
Challenges faced at
Rural Sarawak

9. Rural Electrification Strategy
Main objective is to
replace costly and
non-continuous
diesel generation
with affordable
electricity
• 24hr supply and
comparable reliability
• Rural communities are
charged at the same rates
as urban dwellers
Wherever possible,
connect village to
the main grid
• Grid is still the most
sustainable option for the
long term
• Off-grid mini/micro grid
schemes for
remote/isolated villages:
• Without proper
road/land access
• Too far for grid
connection
Multi-stage distance-
based expansion
strategy
• Villages close to grid
(< 30km) and with road
access
• Villages close to grid
(< 30km) but need road
access
• Remote villages (> 30km)
100% rural
electrification
coverage by 2020/25
• Currently around 84%
• Still require continuing
investment yearly
• Further investments in
grid lines and substations
• Off-grid renewable
alternatives are reserved
for isolated villages

10. Rural Electrification Scheme (RES) via Grid Connection
• Already electrified (4019 villages)
• RES 2009/10 (RM250 mil)
• RES 2010/11 (RM415 mil)
• RES 2011/12 (RM540 mil)
• RES 2012 (RM350 mil)
• RES 2013 (RM450 mil)
• RES 2014 (RM200 mil)
• RES 2015 (RM260 mil)
• Yet to be electrified (2216 villages)

11. Hybrid Station in Sarawak ~ 30 stations,
~66 Villages and ~2115 households
• 1 microhydro & the rest are solar hybrids
• From single-village (~100kWp) to cluster of 9
villages (> 800kWp)

12. Microhydro hybrid at Long Banga, Ulu Baram
132 households;
T&C completed in
Sep 2014; Full
operation from Jan
2015
Expanding to 4
more villages,
schools, clinic,
airport & various
facilities; Integrate
with 2 solar hybrids
2x160kW Turgo
turbines; 160+80kW
diesel backup; 11km
of 11kV lines

13. Solar hybrid at Rh Dau, Betong
26 households Power house Solar panel @97.2 kWp
Battery 5x2250AH @48V Diesel backup 58kW Inverters
T&C completed on 15/16 Jan 2015; Full operation from Feb 2015

14. CSR Project at Batang Ai: Solar Home System
• To bridge energy
gap while waiting
for fund for long
term solution
• To reduce financial
burden of rural
communities
• To tap the use of
renewable energy
• Solar Home System for
Rh. Kino (20 hh) and
Rh. Manggat (17 hh)
with a total of 200
villagers
• Project costs RM558,880
• Each household is provided
with 24 hours electricity supply to power 8 lights, TVs, radios, fans, computers and
phone charger
Location Solar panels Power control unit & batteries Community engagement

15. Business Models for Rural MicroGrid
Community-basedmodel
• Small scale DIY
approach
• Community
operate and
maintain
• No tariff but
monthly
contribution
towards O&M
• Not reliable
Privatesector-basedmodel
• Micro IPP
• Had explored
public-private
partnership
• Did not
proceed due
primarily to
cost constraint
• Lacking sound
business case
Utility-basedmodel
• 365x24 service
on standard
tariff
• Government
fund CAPEX
and subsidize
OPEX
• Utility operate
and maintain