This document discusses fuel switching from diesel to coconut oil for rural electrification in Pacific Island countries. It notes that diesel currently accounts for a large portion of electricity costs due to transportation to remote areas. Coconut oil is proposed as an alternative that could displace a significant amount of diesel usage. Modifications would need to be made to engines and supply chains established, but initial blends of 20% coconut oil and 80% diesel are recommended. Fuel switching could save over $70 million annually while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by around 180,000 tonnes per year. Further analysis of supply chains is needed to implement this solution.

1. A Sustainable Future fuel switching for rural development Atul K. Raturi Presented at Energy side event, ACP Ministerial Meeting, Port Moresby, 2 June 2006

2. The Electrified Earth

3. Population density PNG ~ 8 persons/km 2 Tuvalu ~ 363 persons/ km 2 No. of islands/ country PNG -400 Fiji- 300 Kiribati- 33 Population PNG – 5 Million Tuvalu- 9,600 Land Area PNG – 462,243 km 2 Nauru- 21 km 2

4. Population without grid electricity Fiji: ~ 33% PNG:~ 85% Solomon Islands: ~98% Vanuatu:~ 78% W.Samoa:~ 10% Tonga:~5% Photo:BugBog

5. ELECTRICITY GENERATION PNG 29% Hydro W.Samoa 32% Hydro Micronesia 11.5% Hydro Others – Mainly Diesel Ratio of Petroleum Imports to Total Exports Marshall Islands, Palau and Tuvalu ~ 400%

6. Global warming & Climate change Recent research shows that the global warming in the New Guinea Island was occurring at the rate 20 times higher than previously thought Temperatures have increased on average 0.3 degrees every decade (among the fastest in the world) Glaciers on Mount Jaya (highest peak on the Island-Indonesian side) have retreated by 300 m in 30 years The priceless flora and fauna (some yet to be discovered) will be lost forever Photo:www.rbgkew.org.uk Source: New scientist, March 2006)

7. Carteret Atoll, Papua New Guinea The entire population of 2000 is to be moved to higher grounds. “ First Climate Change Refugees” By 2015, all the six islands will be submerged. Saltwater has already destroyed the gardens and crops Two uninhabited islands of Kiribati disappeared in 1999. Tuvalu, Marshall Islands are under threat. In 2000, all the 1000 residents of Duke of York atoll were advised that their island was sinking Global warming effects in the Pacific

8. Electricity production in PNG -- 8 C-centers 1,200 280 Mining &Industry (self generation) 105 32 Hanjung-Kanudi (Private) 665 302 PNG power Generation (GWh/yr) Capacity (MW) Producer

9. Distillate Use in electricity generation Total electricity generated using diesel -PNG Power( Jan-Nov.2005):101,760 MWh Average generator efficiency: 28% or 0.30 l/ kWh Diesel consumption~ 35 Million Liters Fiji: 42 ML (2000) Projected (2011): 161 ML Solomon Islands: 21.4 ML (2001) Projected increase 5% annually This does not include usage by Industry and individuals

10. Diesel engine “ The diesel engine can be fed with vegetable oils and would help considerably in the development of agriculture of the countries that use it.” Rudolph Diesel, World exhibition Paris, 1900

11. Oil Properties 190 179 -24 29 @ 40 °C 34.6 39.7 Linseed Oil 191 130 -16 33 @ 40 °C 37.9 39.6 Soybean Oil 175 125 -10 37 @ 40 °C 38 39.7 Gross Rapeseed Oil 199 54 35 37 @ 40 42-50 39.6 Gross Palm Oil 268 10 24 20 @ 40 °C 60 42.0 Gross Coconut Oil - - -9 4 @ 40 °C 45 - 55 45.3 Gross Petroleum Diesel Saponification Value Iodine Value Solidification Point ( 0 C) Kinematic Viscosity (cS) Cetane Number Specific Energy (MJ/kg) Fuel

12. Main Issues ( Coconut Oil) High viscosity: Pump and injector failure Iodine value: Injection system problems Soap build-up: Soap in the engine sump High boiling point: High engine temp. High cloud point: Solidifies at 24 0 C Water content: Difficult ignition

13. Solutions Filter down to 10 micron Degumming Pre-heating Blending with diesel Start and stop with diesel Use CNO as lubricant FFA ( free fatty acid) removal

14. Utilization of CNO in CI engines Option 1: Modify the oil Blending, Transesterification (Bio-diesel) Option 2: Modify the engine Dual fuel, heating systems, injector, pumps, filters modification

15. Biodiesel Coconut biodiesel ( Coconut Methyl Ester-CME) – Reaction of CNO with methanol in the presence of a catalyst (NaOH) CNO + Methanol Coconut Methyl Ester + Glycerin (by- product) The properties of CME are very close to diesel The production of CME requires specialised chemical machinery The economics of CME production in PICs needs careful consideration

16. Blending Blending CNO with diesel reduces the viscosity Source:Machaon et al Source: Tangsathitkulchai et al Viscosity vs. Temp (various blends) Droplet diameter vs. % CNO

17. Engine Modifications Dual fuel systems Additional heating systems Specially designed filters, pumps and injectors Commercially available conversion systems Deltech Ltd., Elsbett etc.

18. Copra Production CNO Production Papua New Guinea

19. Some examples of CNO based systems Buka Metal Fabricators, PNG: 50 kVA and another 30 kVA system Duetz generator Dual fuel: start and stop on diesel ; run on CNO Running without problemm Fiji demonstration systems(2) Lomaloma ( implemented 2000), CIRAD,SPC,DOE Modified Duetz engines: Dual fuel tanks, heating system, start and stop with diesel, 74 kW, 1500 rpm, Indirect injection ,90 kVA alternator CNO: locally produced Present status: Running on diesel Problems faced: Inadequate supply of CNO Local mill unable to supply and outside supply is expensive

20. ii. Welagi Island (implemented 2001) CIRAD,SPC,DOE Modified Deutz engine 45 kVA generator Current status: Not in operation Problems faced: CNO supply, spare parts Solomon Islands Lata power station (Implemented 2002-03),SIEA,Ausaid,NZaid 80 kVA- Perkins diesel engine based system Test runs: filter problems , additional heater installed Current status: Testing stopped due to lack of filters SIEA believes that the concept works Samoa COCOGEN project CNO substitution in EPC’s power generation systems Implementing agencies: UNDP,EPC,SOPAC (consultant)

21. CNO Fuel in PNG & Vanuatu

22. Rabaul Shipping COPM, Madang CNO in boilers CNO in ships

23. Environmental effects of fuel switching CNO is biodegradable, carbon neutral, contains no sulfur, lead or toxic hydrocarbons GHG emission by diesel = 2.45 kg/liter Using locally produced CNO for electricity generation will reduce the diesel consumption by the transport sector Help reduce the methane produced by rotting coconuts and neglected coconut plantations (CH 4 has 21 times GVP of CO 2 )

24. The CNO option: some scenarios Finshafen, PNG (District HQ) Currently uses 600 L of diesel/day CNO required for 100% replacement : 676 L per day Annual CNO requirement : 246.7 kL Diesel replaced : 219 kL GHG reduction 591 tonne CO 2 equivalent Rotuma Island (Fiji) 240 kW village system ( 4 hours per day) CNO required 122 kL per year ~ 203MT of copra per year Diesel displaced 106 kL GHG reduction: 287 tonne CO 2 equivalent Carbon Trading Potential

25. Ethanol from Cassava Crop yield: 14-15 tons/ha/yr Potential Alcohol production: 2,523 L/ha/yr PNG produces 50% of all PIC cassava yield. Cassava can be grown on infertile land Other crops Sago Palm: up to 100 ML of ethanol potential in Gulf Nipa palm: up to 250 ML from Purari basin

26. Kerosene based lighting A kerosene wick lantern produces~ 1 lux (lumen/m 2 ) at 1 m distance Industrialized countries: 500 lux (normal) Used 4 hours/day a kerosene lamp emits 100kg of CO 2 annually. Annual light output of a kerosene lamp = light produced by a 100 W incandescent lamp in 10 hours : Highly inefficient About 90% of the people in PNG use kerosene for lighting .~ 35 Million Liters/ year.98 M kg of CO 2 equivalent

27. White Light Emitting Diode (WLED) Solid state (semiconductor based) lighting Indestructible, lifetime-100,000 hours,30-40 years Efficiency~ 100 lumens/watt (0.1lumen/watt for kerosene) Very low power requirement: 1 watt wled requires 80% less power than a CFL Connected to a rechargeable battery can be used anywhere Recharging: solar, manual (pedal power), commercial A wled lantern WLED (5W)

28. WLED based lighting systems in PNG Light with rechargeable 12 Volt battery Cost ~ 200 Kina ( USD 70) Light Up The World Foundation (LUTW) Pioneer of LED lighting 14,000 homes in 26 countries www.lutw.org

29. PHOTOVOLTAICS: Electricity from the Sun Very high potential in the PICs Sunshine hours (POM)=2,478

30. Teachers Solar Lighting Project (PNG) Department of education & the World Bank (GEF) Teachers are given interest-free loans (through Teachers’ Savings and Loan society) To buy Solar Lighting Kits. Repayable in 5 years Initially 2,500 teachers in rural areas to benefit A revolving fund to be set-up Grant: USD 992,000 Implementing agency: PNG SEL PV projects in PNG

31. Department of education and Govt. of Japan 320 Solar Lighting Kits (SLK) in schools in remote villages The system consists of-320 Watts & 480 Watts PV array 12 volt battery (600Ah) Provision for 10 off 20 watt 12dc fluorescent lights Potential to benefit 75,000 primary school children and 5000 teachers 1997-98, Cost: 15 Million Kina Current Status: Only a few still in operation. Problems: Poor quality installation, lack of maintenance and spare parts, Thefts SCHOOL PV Lighting Project

32. PV projects (TE PNG) More than 1200 solar powered (BP Solar) HF radio systems Vaccine fridges ( Ministry of energy, Ausaid, Provincial Govt., Red Cross) Water pumping systems (8): WHO, EU projects Lighting systems (Depts. Of forestry, Health, education Solar power supplies for TV transmitters, repeater stations PNG Telecom 173 sites : 5000 solar panels : 200 peak kW

33. Geothermal Power Lihir Gold Mines 36MW plant in operation 20MW under construction First CDM project in PNG Many other potential sites

34. OTHER RETs Wind: Potential in some regions Hydropower ( micro & pico): Very high potential in PNG >200 systems Biomass: Half of the energy consumed in PICs Tidal OTEC

35. Research & Training in RETs at PNGUT Department of Applied Physics Renewable Energy Systems Design and Analysis Tools PV-DesignPro v4.0 Photovoltaic Energy System Design and Analysis Tool

36. Conclusions/Recommendations Almost 80% of the electricity generation costs are due to diesel import and transportation to remote areas The diesel demand is going to increase in the coming years Technically it is possible to run CI engines on coconut oil The 3 countries can produce more than 80 ML of CNO every year which can displace about 71 ML of diesel. This would save over USD 70 Million on the fuel bill. This money will be ploughed back into the communities that produce coconuts GHG emission will be reduced by ~180 Gg per year with a 100% fuel switch for electricity generation It is suggested that initially 20%CNO/80% diesel blends should be introduced A supply chain analysis should be performed for each country

37. Conclusions/Recommendations Almost 80% of the electricity generation costs are due to diesel import and transportation to remote areas The diesel demand is going to increase in the coming years Technically it is possible to run CI engines on coconut oil The 3 countries can produce more than 80 ML of CNO every year which can displace about 71 ML of diesel. This would save over USD 70 Million on the fuel bill. This money will be ploughed back into the communities that produce coconuts GHG emission will be reduced by ~180 Gg per year with a 100% fuel switch for electricity generation It is suggested that initially 20%CNO/80% diesel blends should be introduced A supply chain analysis should be performed for each country

38. Thank you for your attention Atul K. Raturi Department of Applied Physics PNG University of Technology Lae, PNG email: [email_address] Phone: 675-4734905,675-6864587(mob) Web: www.energyforall.blgspot.com