Iriri Community Development Project Details
Turbo machinery:
10 kW brushless, synchronous alternator, with custom modifications for Solomon Islands rural use.
Pelton wheel SG iron, stainless steel shaft and mountings.
240 Volt AC 50 Hz.
Overspeed/underspeed protection; "failsafe" speed control.
Generation: 3-4 kW electrical output, limited by the flowrate of the Olomo River.
Weir: Timber and rock, local construction.
Penstock: Class 4.5 pressure rated uPVC, 150 mm NB, length 906 metre. Mounting above ground on local timber design. To prevent rotting, this was upgraded in the late 1980’s to include ‘grow-trees’ as mounting stands, comprising living but very slow growing, locally available tree trunks.
Transmission: 70mm² sheathed aluminium in heavy-duty conduit, 240 Volt underground, 1200 metres.
Above-ground connections and inspection boxes installed each 100 metre length.
Distribution: Underground, double-insulated, safety protected with RCD breakers.
Control/regulation: Automatic load control, developed for Solomon Islands rural use.
Commissioned: August, 1983.
Opening ceremony October, 1983, handover to community management.
On-site training during construction phase.
Training provided: Two persons completed a 3-month Certificate course at APACE Centre, University of Technology, Sydney, 1984. One person completed similar mechanically-oriented course, Sydney, 1988.
On-site village capacity-building workshops over one week, 1992. One person attended "in-country" micro hydroelectric 3-month-long overview course 1997, and acted as facilitator within several modules. Two Iriri personnel have experiential training within the Western Province Renewable Energy Program of social and technical surveys over 114 villages (see WPREP), and have acted as supervisors and facilitators for 5 other hydro implementations following their own system's commissioning.
Operation & Maintenance: Automatic operation. All operation/maintenance is carried out by village-trained technicians supported by a network of local skilled people :
Weekly inspections/greasing of bearings with sometimes minor repairs. Daily on/off switching procedure during the dry season. No fee is charged to the community for operation and maintenance, except in the 1980’s when several communal activities were supported with nominal wages.
Generator replaced once since 1983.
Turbine bearings replaced twice since 1983.
Penstock mountings up-graded progressively, particularly during early years. Weir up-graded in 1995. Penstock anchorages repaired occasionally, particularly during early years and heavy storms.
The power system did not operate for 12 months in 2002-3; social factors affected maintenance and discouraged community management. Lack of recompense for operators may have been a discouraging factor.
In 2003 a major effort to upgrade the ageing system was initiated by youths, women and Iriri elders. As a result, the penstock is due to be buried over its full length by the end of 2003, followed by some electrical cabling upgrades and extension of access to new houses.
Tariffing: Community has met all expenses to-date. Monthly fee for electricity supply paid for each household to community. Funds held and invested by community bank account. Funds are sufficient to cover existing and predicted expenses.
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