Analysis of providing affordable electricity supply for the outer islands in the Maldives

Worrall, Nofoaluma (2006) Analysis of providing affordable electricity supply for the outer islands in the Maldives. [USQ Project]

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Abstract

The smaller of the Maldivian outer islands are vulnerable to food shortages during rough seas, drought, epidemics and natural disasters, of which the recent tsunami is a dramatic
example1. The stunting of children and adults from food shortages is common, and infant mortality rates are around 10 per thousand. Life expectancy in the islands is low, caused mainly by common infectious diseases. A United Nations survey indicates that the poor quality electricity supply in these islands contributes substantially to the population's vulnerability. Existing electricity supply on the smaller islands is usually provided by a private supplier or by the Island Development Committee. These enterprises are not effectively regulated, and their supply systems are under designed. Distribution cables are extended to new customers until the voltage at the customer premises falls below marginal usefulness. Diesel generators are always purchased second-hand, and are unreliable and inefficient. Under the existing technology and regulations these communities are unable to propose a financially viable
undertaking with affordable tariffs and therefore are unable to obtain bank loans to finance a reliable electricity supply. In some cases, where island communities are able to raise money to establish a central electricity system, they cannot afford to maintain the system properly. This research project investigates several possible means of reducing the lifetime cost of providing electricity in these islands. The possibilities investigated are modifying conventional engineering design criteria to be more relevant to the needs of small poor islands, using digital instead of expensive analogue equipment for metering, protection, control and synchronization, and utilizing renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power in hybrid with diesel generators.

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Item Type:	USQ Project
Refereed:	No
Item Status:	Live Archive
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Engineering and Surveying - Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Date Deposited:	11 Oct 2007 01:00
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2013 22:43
Uncontrolled Keywords:	electricity; Maldives; mukurimagu; maaeboodhoo; Asian development bank (ADB)
Fields of Research (2008):	09 Engineering > 0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering > 090605 Photodetectors, Optical Sensors and Solar Cells 09 Engineering > 0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering > 090608 Renewable Power and Energy Systems Engineering (excl. Solar Cells) 09 Engineering > 0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering > 090699 Electrical and Electronic Engineering not elsewhere classified
Fields of Research (2020):	40 ENGINEERING > 4009 Electronics, sensors and digital hardware > 400999 Electronics, sensors and digital hardware not elsewhere classified 40 ENGINEERING > 4008 Electrical engineering > 400803 Electrical energy generation (incl. renewables, excl. photovoltaics) 40 ENGINEERING > 4008 Electrical engineering > 400899 Electrical engineering not elsewhere classified
URI:	https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/2245

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