Tony Woods, Team Leader, and micro-hydro expert, technology transfer and training
Ann Mclean, Community development consultant, energy needs and use analysis, participatory load planning to optimise utilisation of turbine
Micro-Hydro Technology Upgrade:
Chitral, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan
Client: Aga Khan Rural Support Programme/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade New Zealand
Names of Senior Staff Involved and Functions:
Narrative Description of Project:
The project involved the addition of speed and voltage control systems to locally built and operated micro hydro turbine systems in isolated valleys in North Pakistan. The addition of the control systems allowed the turbines to be used 24 hours per day and removed the danger of hazardous voltage surges by automatically controlling the speed of the turbine. The social aspect to the project involved the use of the improved access to higher quality power to the economic and social advantage of the communities involved. Supply of quality power to the villages improved by up to 150% following the project due to the greatly increased turbine run times achieved. No technical problems have been experienced in the 2 years following the installations and the project is now being expanded by the local counterpart on their own volition, and out of their own funds.
Services Provided by ECL:
• Project identification, project formulation and submission, monitoring and follow up reports
• Review of existing turbine infrastructure and analysis of technical improvement opportunities through the introduction of new technology.
• Identification of social and economic impacts of improved service; workshops with engineering and social mobiliser master trainers to embed lessons learned
• On site equipment installation, training and commissioning.
• Training of local engineering and social organiser staff to train village committees on advantages and use of new systems.
• Meeting with village representatives and training of local turbine operators.
• Monitoring the installation, retraining as necessary and provision of ongoing arms length technical / social support when required.
• Review of existing turbine infrastructure and analysis of technical improvement opportunities through the introduction of new technology.
• Identification of social and economic impacts of improved service; workshops with engineering and social mobiliser master trainers to embed lessons learned
• On site equipment installation, training and commissioning.
• Training of local engineering and social organiser staff to train village committees on advantages and use of new systems.
• Meeting with village representatives and training of local turbine operators.
• Monitoring the installation, retraining as necessary and provision of ongoing arms length technical / social support when required.
