RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
The Marshalls Energy Company Inc. (MEC) has all the management systems in place and has commenced operations to install the solar home systems in the remote outer islands. MEC has established the required banking facilities and procedures to ensure accountability and compliance with the funds made available for the program.
All project funding allocated to the program, upon release from the RMI Ministry of Finance, are deposited into a special MEC renewable energy account set up specifically for the program and governed by MEC’s accounting principles. The funds in this account are controlled jointly by the management of MEC and the principals from the Ministry of Resources and Development. As works progress on the program, all applications for payment for works completed must be justified with detailed supporting data and submitted for verification. All claims are then checked and certified correct by both the management of MEC and Ministry of Resources and Development Energy office. All project payments are in the form of checks from the renewable energy account and require two approved signatories, one each from MEC and the Min. of R&D.
Marshalls Energy Company is audited every year by the international Auditing Firm Deloitte and the accounts for this program will be included as part of the annual MEC audit operation.
With the management systems in place, progress in now being made with the activation of the Mejit Island installations. Work was completed in October of 2005 with 80 new systems being installed. Current funding limitations limit MEC to investigating the communities of Wotho and Wodmej as the next locations to receive the solar home systems. Field trips to each location will be undertaken within the coming months to finalize the number of systems required, as well as conducting public awareness meetings with all the recipients of the systems. It is planned to have both these atoll groups systems being installed in January 2006.
Extensive publicity regarding the solar home systems program has been undertaken over the years in anticipation of the works starting and as such most people are aware of the general requirements of the program. The public awareness meetings are required to be held to fully explain the situation regarding the operation and maintenance of the systems and MEC’s role in the program.
The program is divided into two parts, the installation phase and the operation phase. The installation phase is funded entirely by a combination of RMI Government and International aid funding. The operation phase is designed to be self funding. This is achieved by collecting a US$100 ‘connection fee’ for every system prior to installation. This fee is collected by MEC and held in a separate working account to be used primarily for the purchase of additional spare components for the installed systems relating to that particular atoll. Additionally a monthly fee of US$12 is to be collected from each system user to supplement this fund. If the system user becomes delinquent in their payments then the system will be disconnected from service until such time the account is paid in full. The operational funds collected are held in separate accounts for each atoll and are to only be used for the payment of expenses in keeping those systems running within that atoll. This will include the payment of wages to the local technicians living on the atoll maintaining the systems as well as all the spare parts required. Currently this system is in operation on Namdrik Atoll and is working effectively. Any surplus realized from the operation of the system is then used to improve the quality of the systems provided by either increasing the power outputs available or upgrading the quality of components used in the systems.
In association with the installation works, a detailed renewable energy database comprising details of all systems installed in the Marshall Islands is being compiled. This is being done on an island by island basis as works proceed throughout the Marshall Islands. This is being combined with detailed mapping information (GIS) systems currently in use by MEC and being made available to the program to record the locations of every system installed. When completed, this data will provide detailed information of every installation on every island or atoll which will form the basis of valuable data assessment in years to come.
All Renewable Energy Projects are coordinated through the Ministry of Resources & Development - Energy Office
KEY STAFF.
RMI Energy Planner Ms. Angeline Heine email -
Assistant Energy Planner Mr. Walter Myazoe email -
International Advisor email -
MEC Solar Engineer Mr. Billy Schutz email - bschutz@mecrmi.net
MEC Chief Technical Officer Mr. Steve Wakefield email - swakefield@mecrmi.net
SOLAR SYSTEMS
MEJIT Island Solar Power System Installed and operating
NAMDRIK Atoll Solar Power System Installed and operating
WOTJE Atoll Solar Power Systems Installed and operating
WOTHO Atoll Solar Power System Installed and operating
Arno Atoll Solar Power System Installed and Operating
Likiep Atoll Solar Power System Installed and Operating
Ailinglaplap Atoll Solar Power System Installed and Operating
Ebon Atoll Solar Power System Installed and Operating
Aur Atoll Solar Power System Installed and Operating
Mili Atoll Solar Power System Installed and Operating
Majuro Atoll Small Islands Solar Installed and Operating
Maloelap Atoll Solar Power System Installed and Operating
Lib Island Solar Power System Installed and Operating
Lae Atoll Solar Power System Installed and Operating
Namu Atoll Solar Power System Installed and Operating
Ailuk Atoll Solar Power System Installed and Operating
INE Elementary School System - Arno Atoll Installed and Operating
INE School Commissioning Report
Ebon Elementary School System - Ebon Atoll Installed and Operating
Take Elementary School System - Ebon Atoll Installed and Operating
Mejit Elementary School System - Mejit Island Installed and Operating
MEJIT School Commissioning report
Majkin Elementary School System - Namu Atoll Installed and Operating
MAJKIN School Commissioning report
CURRENT PROJECTS:
EU/SPC NorthREP project link: http://www.spc.int/edd/en/north-rep-project
ROC Funded Solar Streetlight Project - Majuro Atoll
Targeting areas at the ends of the main feeders which are the areas affected most due to planned or unscheduled outages. Project is ongoing but to date 116 lights have been installed. Additional lights are being sourced to continue the project through the town section.
Renewable energy/Streetlights/Installation manual-RMI Version.pdf
Details on pole mounted battery box.
Majuro Hospital Grid connected System - Gov't of Japan funded 205kW system
Commissioned April 2012. Operating now.
System output can be monitored by requesting access to the website by emailing meccorp@mecrmi.net
ROC funded Solar lights for Basketball Courts
Installation of solar light sets being done in Majuro, Ebeye and several outer islands.
ROC funded Grid Connect systems on various Basketball courts up to 1MW total capacity
PIFS Outer Island R/O Systems for small schools
WIND SYSTEMS
Wind monitoring project - underway
One Wind monitoring tower has been erected in Jaluit Atoll on Jabor island, on the Jaluit High School campus.
Second Wind monitoring tower has been erected in Wotje Atoll on Wotje Island at the Northern Islands High School.
JALUIT ATOLL WIND MEASURING SYSTEM
Installation and system data - Report - Jaluit
Measured data recorded to date - wind data - Jaluit
WOTJE ATOLL WIND MEASURING SYSTEM
Installation and system data - Report-Wotje
Measured data recorded to date - Wind data - Wotje
HYBRID SYSTEMS
Rongrong Island Power system - Majuro Atoll -Proposed Upgrade
Wotje Island Power System - Wotje Atoll - Proposed Upgrade
Wotje island Energy Audit Data.
Jabor Island Power System - Jaluit Atoll - Proposed Upgrade
Jabor Island Energy Audit Data
BIOFUEL SYSTEMS
Outer Island mini mill power systems - on hold
Majuro Station One - Engine #3 upgrade & conversion - Engine parts and equipment procurement nearing completion. Engine rebuild work is expected to start before Xmas 2012 and continue for several months. The rebuilt generator will be commissioned and run in on diesel fuel for up to six months then the transition to a blended fuel operation will commence.