Given by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Al-Khalid Haji Othman The second in our series of workshops designed to gather input from stakeholders involved in existing off-grid projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America. This event is workshop scheduled to be held in Malaysia for the ASEAN countries will be organised by the Academy of Sciences Malaysia (ASM) in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

1. Research & Development
Projects for Rural Community
Development in Sarawak: Issues
and Challenges
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Al-Khalid Haji Othman / Dr Hushairi Hj Zen /
Nazeri Abdul Rahman / Mohd Farid Atan / Noraziah Abd Wahab
Faculty of Engineering, UNIMAS
Head of Energy, Institute of Social Informatics and Technology Innovations (ISITI),
UNIMAS
Head of Solar, Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy (CoERE), UNIMAS

2. Contents
• Overview of Energy Related Groups in UNIMAS
– CoRE: Community-Based Micro Hydro Framework and Policy
– ISITI: Infrastructure Development Strategies and Community
Approach
• Issues and Challenges in Implementing Energy Projects:
– Hydro Power System
– Solar PV System
• Research & Development, Projects and Programs
• List of Potential Programs, Research and Human Capital
Development
• Stakeholders

3. Institute of Social Informatics and Technology
Innovations (ISITI): Energy Group
• Reflecting the diversity of ISITI diverse expertise,
ISITI’s Energy Group consists of multidisciplinary
engineering experts
• The group was established with the aim to ensure
the ICT Telecentre’s energy infrastructure needs
meet the standard and quality design thus offer
efficient and sustainable energy system

4. Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy
(CoERE): Research Groups
Goal 1 Strengthening Research and Development
•To strengthen the research culture in University
• To develop and enhance the research
management of the center
• To enhance the specific areas of research
• To increase research capacity
• To increase research collaboration internally
and externally
Goal 2 Establish Consultancy and Extension Services
• Establish linkages with industries
•Establish Collaboration with:
Professional bodies
Government’s and private research
institution
Organize national and international
conferences/seminars
•Provide consultation services to industries and
government agencies
Goal 3 Establish Community Services
• To contribute and establish services to
community at large

6. Case Study 1: Re-engineering, Re-invention and Re-construction Of Semulong Ulu Micro Hydro Systems
(Project Status: Completed December 2009 (OSAKA GAS Grant 2009).

7. CoERE: Community Based Micro Hydro
Framework and Policy
VISION
To be the leading Centre of Excellence for renewable energy research
and education in Malaysia
MISSION
To establish a conductive and multi-disciplinary research environment within researchers and scientists by focusing on research and
development (R&D), commercialization of marketable renewable energy technologies, and provision of solutions to community and tactical
environmental issues.
Sustainable Micro Hydro System
Policy
Poverty
Reduction
Rural
Development
Green
Technology
Renewable
Energy
Social
Needs analysis
Community
Participation
Socio Economic
Outreach
Organisation
Partnerships
Community
Ownership
Networking
Finance
Tariff
Financial
Management
Grants
Cost Benefit
Analysis
Research and
Development
Micro Hydro
System Design
Turbine
Weir and Forebay
Management
and Operation
Locality
Operation and
Maintenance
Power
Management
Skilled & Semi
Skilled Manpower
Training
Energy
Optimization

8. ISITI: Infrastructure Development Strategies and
Community Approach
Preliminary
Study
(Technical)
• C&S – Identifying telecentre location
• M&E – Telecentre load profiling and wiring
requirement
• Energy Source - Identifying source of energy
Specification
and Design
•C&S Design
•M&E Specification and Design
•Procurement
•Development Planning (Detail Work Schedule)
Construction
and
Installation
• Construction (C&S)
• Installation, Testing and Commissioning (M&E)
• Manpower : Skilled and Semi-skilled, Person in
charge at the site (COW) – C&S and M&E
• Milestone based on Work Schedule
Performance
Analysis
• Study on the power performance
• Power system audit
Preliminary
Study
(Community
Engagement)
• Hold dialogue session with the community on the
process of setting up the telecentre
• Setting up a taskforce/steering committee and explain
the roles of JKOA in the development process
• Identifying local champions (C&S and M&E)
Engagement
of all
members of
the
community
• Hold dialogue sessions with the community members
to ensure an inclusive and multi-level participatory
process.
• Strategies the planning and schedule for construction
of the telecentre.
Training and
Development
Programs
• Develop program for local champions
• Conduct training on site
• Produce Manual on O&M
Sustainability
•Strengthen and building confidence (Hold regular
motivation talks in the community)
•Continuous engagement (Hold a continuous
consultation and consensual decision-making with
Penghulu/Batin, local champion, women and youth)
•Mentoring of next generation of Youth

9. Lessons Learned in Implementing Energy
Projects: Hydro Power System
No. Issues and Challenges Recommendations
1 Accessibility & communication issue Require local champion on site/community
representative/require to have satellite phone
2 Land Issue/Ownership Require community engagement and commitment
3 Required excessive feasibility studies (Site survey, water flow
measurement, head, catchment area, etc.)
Require due diligent
4 Lack of semi-skilled and skilled manpower in the village
(during construction)
Require semi-skilled and skilled training
5 Control of energy over consumption To provide electrification management system
among the community
6 Take longer time to implement Require good project management throughout the
project implementation
7 Materials and machineries not available on site (Logistic) Use material on site and practice community
cohesion
8 Design is site specific (Different requirement on the system) Require to have all information for design stage
9 Lack of documentation on governance and policy specifically
for small hydro project
Produce guidelines and standard operating
procedures for hydro development
10 Lack of local expertise on turbine design and fabrication
(turbine imported from oversea)
Require competency training and setup industry for
turbine fabrication
11 Community Issues (Community divided) Required community engagement and commitment

10. Lessons Learned in Implementing Energy
Projects: Solar PV System
No. Issues and Challenges Recommendations
1 Difficulty of identifying location of ICT Telecentre and
its Solar PV farm (easily accessible by community)
Work with the community to physically visit and
inspect agreed location(s)
2 Land Issue (Ownership) / Limited Space Required community engagement and
commitment
3 Lack of semi-skilled and skilled manpower on site
(Maintenance and Operation)
Training/Local Champion
4 Community Issue (Personal and group demand) Community empowerment
5 Component failure (Inverter/Controller/Battery) Require to do proper design and selection of
components
6 Long delivery time of components and BoS to sites Require experience and competent supplier/agent
7 Difficulty getting load profile information from
community and
Require extensive load profiling
8 Logistic (Transportation for project mobilization) Require proper planning for mobilization of
components and manpower
9 Maintenance Issue Require periodic maintenance
10 Abuse of power consumption Require to implement smart electrification
management system

11. Research & Development, Projects and Programs
(Part 1/5)
No. Grant Total Grant (RM) Project Title
Period of
Research
Status
1 KETHHA 1,800,000.00
Design and Development of
Micro Hydro at Semulong Ulu,
Lingga, Sri Aman
2011-2014 Ongoing
2
KETHHA
1,700,000.00
Design and Development of
Micro Hydro at Sengaih, Julau,
Sarawak
2011-2014 Ongoing
3
KETHHA
650,000.00
Green Energy Island: Study on
Potential Sites for Micro-Hydro
2011-2012 Completed
4 KKLW 4,300,000.00
Design and Development of
Micro Hydro at Pa’Ramapuh,
Bario
2013-2015 Ongoing
5 KKLW 3,800,000.00
Design and Development of
Micro Hydro at Bukit Assum,
Padawan, Sarawak
2013-2015 Ongoing
6
UNIMAS Strategic
Manpower Study for
SCORE
223,940.63
Strategic for Manpower for
SCORE: Energy Based Cluster
April 2009-
December 2010
Completed
7
Japanese Government
Grant
(The Consulate-
General of Japan)
159,000.00
(US$50,000）
The Project for Electrification of
Community Centre by Solar
Energy in Long Lamai Village
February 2009-
November 2009
Completed

12. Research & Development, Projects and
Programs (Part 2/5)
No. Grant Title Total Grant (RM) Research Title
Period of
Research
Status
8
Japanese
Government
Grant
(The Consulate-
General of
Japan)
172,000.00
(US$51,896）
The Project for Electrification of
Community Centre by Solar
Energy in Larapan Village
February 2010-
Jun 2010
Completed
9
UNIMAS Grant
L18403 F02 00
Hidro Lingga
5,000.00
Micro Hydro Power Development
at Semulong Ulu, Lingga, Sri
Aman
July – December
2009
Completed
10 MOSTI 1,000,000.00
Micro Hydro Power Development
at Lubok Antu, Sri Aman
July 2009
December 2010
Completed
11
DAGS Rollout-
MOSTI
4,000,000.00 ICT Development for Rural Area 2008-2010 Completed
12 OSAKA 6,500.00 Micro Hydro Turbine Design 2010-2011 Completed
13
International
Research Council
(IDRC), Canada
200,000.00
ICT Development for Rural Area
– eBario
2000 Completed
14
Demonstrator
Applications
Grant Scheme
(DAGS), MIMOS
620,000.00
ICT Development for Rural Area
– eBario
2002 Completed

13. Research & Development, Projects and Programs
(Part 3/5)
No. Grant Title
Total Grant
(RM)
Project Title
Period of
Research
Status
15
UNIMAS Short
Term Grant
52,960.70
ICT Development for Rural Area –
eBario
2002 Completed
16
UNIMAS Top
Down
100,000.00
ICT Development for Rural Area –
eBario
2006-2008 Completed
17 UNIMAS 10,000
Micro Hydro and Solar PV System
Hybrid for ICT Telecentre
2007-2008 Completed
18
E14054 F02 54
PK4/03/2012 (01)
54,720.00
Energy Optimization for Rural ICT’s
Telecentre
April 2012-
2014
On–going
19 KTP Geran 171,000.00
Design and Development of Micro
Hydro at Semulong Ulu, Lingga,
Sarawak.
April 2012-
2014
On–going
20 R&D Geran 50,000.00
Design and Development of Wind
Turbine
April 2012-
2014
On–going
21
JARIMAS – JKR
L18403/F02/00/JAR
IMAS
1,249,500.00
Sustainable Instream Horizontal
Micro-Hydro Turbine Generator
(JARIMAS Turbine)
April 2010 –
June 2012
Completed
22 PRGS
128,000.00
Modeling of Energy Extraction
From Low Velocity Water Stream
with Micro Hydro Turbine
1 July 2013-30
June 2016
On –going

14. Research & Development, Projects and Programs
(Part 4/5)
No. Grant Title Total Grant (RM) Project Title
Period of
Research
Status
23
Telecentre
Programme Among
Orang Asli (TPOA)
in West Malaysia
KKLW:
GL(I03)/07/2013/JA
KAO (07)
4,900,000.00
Solar PV System Installation at
Pos Sinderut ICT Telecentre,
Kuala Lipis, Pahang
April 2013
February
2016
Solar PV System Installation at
Pos Lenjang ICT Telecentre,
Kuala Lipis, Pahang
Solar PV System Installation at
Pos Gob ICT Telecentre, Gua
Musang, Kelantan
Solar PV System Installation at
Pos Balar ICT Telecentre, Gua
Musang, Kelantan

15. Research & Development, Projects and Programs:
CoERE Grant (Part 5/5)

16. List of Potential Research and Human Capital Development (Part 1/2)
No. Title Level of Study
(PhD, Master,
Undergraduate)
Faculty/Institute/Centre
1 Renewable Energy Policies, Programs and Research Priorities
in Commonwealth Countries
Master/PhD ISITI/CoERE
2 Way Forward of Energy Policy for Commonwealth Countries Master ISITI
3 Design of Smart Village for Sustainable Rural Community Master ISITI
4 Empowering Rural Women on ICT Master ISITI
5 Energy Management System Master CoERE/Faculty of
Engineering
6 Impact of Energy on Rural Community Master CoERE/Faculty of
Engineering
7 Design of Smart Building System for Rural School Master CoERE/Faculty of
Engineering
8 Social Transformation of Rural Community Master CoERE/Faculty of
Engineering
9 Framework for Experimenting Technology Assessment in
Social Context
Master ISITI
10 Impact of Technology on Community Master ISITI
11 Investigating the Technology Adoption for Teaching and
Learning in Remote Rural Communities
PhD CoERE/Faculty of
Engineering
12 Developing a Visualized Indigenous Knowledge Management
Prototype
Master ISITI
13 Design of Optimized Electrification for Rural Schools Master ISITI

17. List of Potential Research and Human Capital Development
(Part 2/2)
No. Title Level of Study
(PhD, Master,
Undergraduate)
Faculty/Institute/Centre
14 Design Text-free Interfaces for the Illiterates and Disable
Population
PhD ISITI
15 Develop Framework and Methodology for Knowledge Creation
and Innovations in Indigenous Communities
PhD ISITI
16 Develop Low Cost Wireless Network Technology Solution for
Malaysian Rural Communities
PhD ISITI
17 Optimize Energy System for Rural Applications PhD ISITI
18 Socio-Economic Impacts of Telecentre in Rural Community PhD ISITI/FSS
19 Power Quality Management in Genset-Hybrid System PhD CoERE/Faculty of
Engineering
20 Performance of Lithium Polymer Battery for Standalone Solar
PV System
Master CoERE/Faculty of
Engineering
21 Battery Management System for Energy Optimization Master CoERE/Faculty of
Engineering
22 Design of Monitoring System for Genset-Solar Hybrid System Master CoERE/Faculty of
Engineering
23 Design of Efficient Inverter for Genset-Solar Hybrid System Master CoERE/Faculty of
Engineering
24 Power Quality Performance for Genset-Solar Hybrid System PhD ISITI

18. Stakeholders
Hydro Power Solar PV System
Ministry of Rural and Regional Development Japanese Government
Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation
(MOSTI)
Ministry of Education Solar PV System Equipment Supplier
Ministry of Public Works International Research Council (IDRC), Canada
Ministry of Public Utilities Sarawak Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli
Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation
(MOSTI)
Institute of Social Informatics and Technological
Innovations (ISITI-CoERI)
Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB SEDA
OSAKA Gas Japan
UNIMAS Holding Sdn. Bhd.
Local Consultant Local Consultant
Local Contractor Local Contractor
Community (Sites Specific)
Drainage and Irrigation Department
Sarawak River Authority

21. Thank you