The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is comprised of the four states of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. The FSM lie along and to the North of the equator and consist of 607 islands and atolls forming part of the Caroline Islands Group. The islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls with volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk. Northeast trade winds heavily influence the tropical climate of the FSM with strong trade winds prevailing from December through April and periods of weaker winds and doldrums occurring from May to November. The selected project sites are located on low, coral atolls.
Part of the ambitious REP-5 project (funded under the 9th European Development Funds) for the Federated States of Micronesia was to install 2 mini-grid solar generators implemented on the Islands Asor and Fadrai of YAP Sate; for CHUUK State PV systems for public buildings on the islands Moch, Satawan, Udot and Onoun; for POHNPEI State PV installations for public buildings (schools and dispensaries) on the islands Mwoakilloa, Pingelap, Sapwaufik, Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi. In KOSRAE State the programme installed 5 Grid-connected systems.
Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia
The two islets being electrified are Fadrai with 31 houses and several public facilities and Asor with 18 houses and several public facilities. Two solar powered mini-grids will be installed on islets in the atoll of Ulithi, Yap, FSM. The islets are accessible within a few hours travel by small boat from the Ulithi shipping port and airport with passage through the lagoon, not open ocean. The local project manager is the Yap power utility, the Yap State Public Service Corporation (YSPSC).
The atoll of Ulithi can be reached by scheduled and unscheduled shipping and by small, scheduled and unscheduled aircraft. Persons and materials that arrive at the port facilities of Ulithi at Falalop can then be transferred by small, locally hired outboard powered boats to go to the islets of Fadrai and Asor.
For both sites, the PV power system will deliver 230VAC at 60Hz instead of the Yap standard of120V 60 Hz in order to minimize the power loss in the distribution system. Users that have appliances that require120V 60Hz will use a transformer connected to the appliance.
For Fadrai the mini-grid will be 25,275 kWp and consist of 216 130Wp NAPS solar modules; 72 2 V batteries (per cell: 2.884 Ah/C10); Output: 410/240 VAC / 60 Hz.
The mini-grid for Asor will be 16,5 kWp and will use 145 130Wp NAPS solar modules; 72 2 V batteries (per cell: 1.854 Ah/C10); Output: 410/240 VAC / 60 Hz. The installations of the said mini-grids are scheduled for February 2009.
Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia
In Chuuk State (most populated state of FSM) the main focus of was to install PV solar systems on public facilities of 4 islands. Public buildings in the villages of Satawan and Moch will be electrified on Satawan Atoll, the Highschool of Udot (located in the Truk Lagoon, will receive a PV system and public buildings in the village of Onoun will be electrified on Namonuito (Ulul) atoll. Both Onoun and Satawan atolls are accessible both by small plane and by scheduled and unscheduled shipping. Ships offload cargo onto small boats for delivery to the sites as there are no wharf facilities. All small boat travel will be within the atoll lagoon with no travel on the open ocean. On site activities were provided by Chuuk Public Utilities Corporation (CPUC).
Sites Overview:
Onoun Mini-grid connecting public buildings: 10,5 kWp / Solar Modules 92 125Wp (NAPS) / Batteries: 24 cells 2.884 Ah (C10); Output: 120VAC / 60Hz
Satawan decentralised school system: 6,6 kWp / Solar Modules 54 125 Wp (NAPS) / Batteries 24 cells 2.317 Ah (C10); Output: 120 VAC / 60 Hz
Moch Mini-grid connecting public buildings: 6,7 kWp / Solar Modules 54 125 Wp (NAPS / Batteries 24 cells 2.317 Ah (C10); Output: 120 VAC / 60 Hz
Udot decentralised school system: 3,4 kWp / Solar Modules 28 125 Wp (NAPS) / Batteries 24 cells 1.009 Ah (C10); Output: 120 VAC / 60 Hz
The systems are being installed in December 2008.
Pohnpei State, Federated States of Micronesia
Pohnpei State has 5 main "outer islands" and all these islands were selected to receive a PV solar system for the Dispensary and School buildings.
Public buildings in the villages of Kapingamarangi, Nukuoro, Sapwaufik, Mwoakilloa and Pingelap will be electrified. Pingelap, Mwoakilloa and Sapwaufik are accessible both by small plane and by scheduled and unscheduled shipping, while Kapingamarangi and Nukuoro are accessible only by scheduled and unscheduled shipping. Ships offload cargo onto small boats for delivery to the sites as there are no wharf facilities. All small boat travel will be within the atoll lagoon with no travel on the open ocean.On site activities and installations are being provided by a local solar company, Green Energy Solutions (GES).
The islands are split in the "Eastern Islands" -Mwaokillao and Pingelap - and the "Southern Islands" - Kapingamarangi, Nukuoro and Sapwaufik -.
Sapwuafik (5°47’ N - 157°09’ E / Google Earth)
Sapwuafik, is the closest island to the main island of Pohnpei, it is situated 90 miles away. The combination of an airstrip and close proximity to Pohnpei means that the island is more developed than Nukuoro atoll and Kapingamarangi atoll. The school in Sapwuafik has a total of 10 class rooms and has two floors. The complex consists of three separate buildings.
Nukuoro (3°50 N – 154°56’ E / Google Earth)
Nukuoro atoll, is between Kapingamarangi and Sapwuafik atoll. The atoll is located 275 miles South of Pohnpei main island. Nukuoro has a population of around 300 people. The lagoon is 6 kilometres (about 3.7 miles) in diameter. Nukuoro is very remote but also beautiful and is well known for its black pearls. It has no airstrip, and a passenger boat calls irregularly only once every few months. The school is located on a separate site to the north of the dispensary and has 4 classrooms. One of the systems was installed on the school while the other was installed on the Municipal Office providing electricity to the office and the dispensary.
Kapingamarangi (1°04’ N - 154°46’ E / Google Earth)
Kapingamarangi is the furthest and most inaccessible of all the outer islands of Pohnpei and is 423 miles south of Pohnpei Main Island. Kapingamarangi has a population of about 700 inhabitants. The elementary school and dispensary on the island are not located on the same island so the PV installation will consist of two independently operating PV systems. One system was installed on the municipal office and electrify both the dispensary as the office itself, the other system connects 3 school buildings.
Sites Overviews:
Sapwaufik Decentralised system for school and dispensary: School 8,34 kWp / Solar Panels: 18 x 130 Wp and 48 x 125 Wp and the dispensary 3 kWp / Solar Panels: 24 x 125 Wp / Output 120 VAC / 60 Hz
Nukuoro Decentralised School system: 4,6 kWp / Solar Panels: 36 x 130 Wp / Output: 120 VAC / 60 Hz
Nukuoro Central Administration Building and Dispensary: 3 kWp / Solar Panels: 24 x 125 Wp / Output 120 VAC / 60 Hz
Kapingamarangi Decentralised School system: 5,8 kWp / Solar Panels: 45 x 130 Wp / Output 120 VAC / 60 Hz
Kapingamarangi Central Administration Building and Dispensary: 4 kWp / Solar PAnels: 32 x 125 Wp / Output: 120 VAC / 60 Hz
All these systems are being installed in end November.
Pingelap (6°12’ N – 160°42’ E / Google Earth)
Pingelap is located east from Pohnpei (main island) and has an airstrip. Official population is around 200 inhabitants. Pingalap can be reached by scheduled and unscheduled (weekly) flights and boat trips. In Pingelap PV systems will be installed on the school and the dispensary.
Mwoakilloa (Mokil 6°41’ N – 159°45’ E / Google Earth)
Mwoakilloa atoll is located east of Pohnpei main island. The island has an airstrip and can be reached weekly on scheduled and unscheduled flights and trips of boats. Here also the PV systems will be installed on the school and the dispensary.
Sites Overview:
Pingelap Decentralised dispensary and school: respectively 2,5 kWp and 6,2 kWp / Solar Modules: 20 x 125 Wp and 48 x 130 Wp / Output: 120 VAC / 60 Hz
Mwoakilloa Decentralised dispensary and school: resp. 2,5 kWp and 6,1 kWp / Solar Modules: 20 x 125 Wp and 48 x 130 Wp / Output 120 VAC / 60 Hz
These systems will be installed mid January 2008
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The installations of the systems on the Southern Islands of Pohnpei State and the islands of Chuuk State went well and pictures can be found at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/josvandenakker/MicronesiaSolarPVInstallationProject#
http://picasaweb.google.com/Konings.FSM/NukuoroEUREP5PVInstallations#
http://picasaweb.google.com/Konings.FSM/KapingamarangiEUREP5PVInstallations#
Saturday, December 27, 2008
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