GlobalGiving.org: Micro Hydro Power for 1,000 People in Philippines

Micro-Hydro Project Now Operational!

Dexter Gauntlett — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:23:27 GMT

The micro-hydro project in Datalnay is now operational. SIBAT is now monitoring the performance of the micro-hydro system and assisting with the development of local enterprises.

Here is an update from SIBAT's final project completion report:

The 11 kW MHP system is now in place lighting the street towards the community plaza. The school has been provided likewise with lighting, the staff house and training center. The community policy is to use power for the grain mill at the moment with household lighting as secondary. Household connections for lighting will then be considered at a later stage as additional materials/funds are needed for transmission and distribution to households.Community-based policies and project management systems and procedures are in place for the use and management of the MHP/Grain Mill. The multifunctional agri-mill in Datalnay is targeted to operate for 8 hours daily for an estimated 10 months in a year, with an estimated milling capacity of 150 kg per hour. Mill operation will be scheduled as daytime load so as not to coincide with the expected peak domestic load during nighttime.

Alongside the installation of the MHP powered agri-mill project, capability building and hands-on trainings were conducted to equip the community with technical, management and entrepreneurial skills. Local community operators of the MHP-mill system have been trained for its management, operation and maintenance.The formation of a community project management committee is now primarily tasked to formulate and enforce the maintenance, operation and management policies. The income generated will provide for corn mill maintenance & operational expenses and as development fund for the community.

AUGUST 2011 UPDATE

Dan Wasil — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:51:21 GMT

This just in from Shen Maglinte, our Project Contact in Dlumay. We will add photos/videos as they come in, and the more detailed report Shen references as it becomes available:

Hello, apologies for late reply. Yes, meantime am happy to report the MicroHydro Plant and multigrade corn mill has been finally commissioned and inaugurated last August 11 in Dlumay attended by more than a hundred people. Finally, we were able to strike clarifications with the LGUs and concerned agencies and the project was completed lighting up the streets the plaza and running the multigrade mill at 10kW capacity after all those issues of militarization and intrigues sowed on the project. I am preparing a detailed report on this just came down last August 14 from the project site. ...

Political and military delays

Michel Maupoux — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 00:10:21 GMT

A complex situation has developed in the last months in the communities of Datalnay & Dlumay and several others in the area.

Unfortunately, a local military battalion has apparently interpreted the recent empowerment of the communities – starting alphabetization classes, installing technical equipment for electricity, working with regional and national non-profits to improve their living conditions – as a signal that the communities are sympathizers of the armed rebel groups active in the island. At various times since November 2010, soldiers in full battle gear have harassed, detained, and interrogated men, women, and children, including a group of 30 school children doing outdoor activities and tree-planting on part of the micro-hydro system.

Since mid March, to ensure their safety and on the advice of the community leaders and even of the parents, all of the remaining local non-profit staff had to evacuate the area. The teachers heartbreakingly padlocked the school and declared a temporary suspension of classes with the promise to the community of working out their return.

Even usual farming activities have been disrupted.

Complaints have been filed by the local non-profits, who are working with local authorities to normalize the situation.

Needless to say, the final work on the electrification and agricultural processing facilities, and the inauguration ceremony, have been put on hold until the situation improves.

Official inauguration soon!

Michel Maupoux — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:22:11 GMT

Datalnay - general view

After a few setbacks and delays, the electromechanical equipment was fully tested by engineers Carlo and JenJen in December 2010.

Official commissioning and inauguration of the full system including the agro-processing mill is planned for March 2011. From then on, the community takes over running and managing the facilities.

Thanks for your support.

Carrying the turbine & generator

Electricity vs. food

Michel Maupoux — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 19:54:25 GMT

October 2010: For the last 6 months, food production and irrigation work have been given priority over electrical work. In addition, the heavy rainy season has impeded access to the community for engineering work. So there has been no progress on the electrical generation and distribution system.

Official commissioning of the electrical system is scheduled for November, and will be followed by a more in-depth report.

Thanks for your interest and support.

Lights in the school!

Michel Maupoux — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:19:20 GMT

Rice field in Datalnay

As of June 2010: The community has been suffering from food shortage for the last couple of seasons due to climate extremes, which has caused out migration of some people to look for odd jobs and food. The condition has affected the number of people working in the project, and therefore the pace of progress.

However, the turbine & generator, and the post harvest facility are now in place and functioning.

The system is still short of funds to install electricity lines throughout the villages. School electrification was decided as the top priority by the community. A new school building has been completed close to the power house (where the turbine and generators are located) and receives electricity, which enables adult literacy classes at night..

Capability-building (trainings) on the electrical plant and Post-harvest facility are happening right now. Food production and agroforestry will be given attention for the rest of the year. Food production activities will progress from the vegetable gardens to irrigated rice systems to increase food security in the villages.

Progress and enhancements

Michel Maupoux — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:14:19 GMT

Trek to Dlumay

The canals and silt basin are completed, although a landslide slowed progress in August.

The electro mechanical devices have been hauled to the site but have not been mounted yet in the power house because of inability to haul as many cement and steel bars as needed during the last visit. Cement blocks are built locally, as it would be too difficult to carry them all the way from town. The powerhouse installation should be complete in the first quarter of 2010.

The German Embassy helped finance the corn mill equipment, and the villagers gave higher priority to having the mill operational rather than building transmission lines to all the houses for lighting. Transportation of the mill to the site is being organized.

In addition, as illiteracy is very high, a temporary building was built nearby, that will serve as school.

Plans for the next few months, • Engineering construction (visit 4) o Finish lectromechanicals foundation setting and construction of powerhouse floor o tailrace construction o installation of turbine, electromechanicals o penstock layout and jointing • Community work: o Community constructs anchor blocks and slope stabilization o hauling of milling equipment • Engineering construction (visit 5) o weir construction o testing and commissioning of MHP system o installation of milling equipment o operations and management training

The accompanying pictures will show how difficult it is to reach the site and haul material all the way there. The “8 hr hike” is actually more like 16 to 20hrs for a Westerner.

Trek to DLumay

School with dirt floor

Equipment on its way

Michel Maupoux — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:31:21 GMT

As of August 4, 2009, the turbine and generator had cleared customs in Manila and were being sent on their final ship to General Santos in Mindanao. From there, they will need to be transported to the site, by truck then on foot for many hours depending on the status of the roads and paths after the recent tropical rains and typhoons.

The villagers are patiently but eagerly awaiting the equipment.

We hope to receive photos soon and be able to post them. Thanks to our donors, and feel free to let us know if you have any comment or question on this project.

Micro-Hydro installation progress

Michel Maupoux — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:33:27 GMT

As of February 2009, the turbine and generator are to be shipped soon to the island of Mindanao. It's only now into the dry season, that the arduous hike to the installation site is feasible with this heavy load. It normally takes 8 hours to the physically fit locals to hike there from the closest road, so hauling this will take a lot of work and would be impossible during the rainy season.

Progress for Datalnay/Dlumay Micro-Hydro

Michel Maupoux — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:14:57 GMT

Villagers who will benefit from the micro Hydro electric plant

As of July 2008, the following activities have started and will be on-going: * Social preparation (organizing for construction, management, maintenance); * Sustainable agriculture training and implementation to improve food supply to the population; * Deeds of parcels to the community organization for all land necessary for civil works, including the power house that will house the turbine and generator; * Local (endemic) seedling collection, tree nursery development, and tree-planting to protect the watershed.

As of August 10, 2008, the custom-made turbine and generator assembly have been built by our generous in-kind donor Canyon Hydro. Shipment to the Philippines will happen once the importation red tape is cleared.

The necessary civil work (weir, canal, piping, penstock, etc.) is scheduled to be completed with help of the villagers by December 2008. Site installation of turbine & generator is scheduled for the first half of 2009, with the test run in June 2009.

Complementary funding is still sought for the corn mill equipment.

2008 Activities Plan

Sustainable fields to better feed the villagers