MINI-HYDROPOWER PLANTS IN IRRIGATION CANALS OF THE PHILIPPINES

AS SOLUTION TO THE POWER CRISIS IN THE PROVINCES

FOR THE YEAR 2017-2018

SUBMITTED BY:
AGUILA, KEN
FERNANDEZ, NICO PAOLO
GATMAITAN, KARL EIRON
GOLOSINDA, DENVER
HERNANDEZ, ROLANDO LUIS YMANUEL G.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE i
TABLE OF CONTENTS ii
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 1
1.1. Background of the Study 1
1.2. Statement of the Problem 1
1.3. Purpose of Concept 1
1.4 Goals and Objectives 1
Chapter 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 2
Chapter 3: SYNTHESIS 3
3.1. Concept description 3
3.2. Methodology 3
3.3. Timeline 3
3.4. Budget 3
References 4
 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Most of us live in a place wherein electricity is a commodity. We use electricity in our daily lives.
Things such as using the electric fan, charging our gadgets, and even turning on the lights require
the presence of electricity. Electricity can be generated through different types of sources such as
geothermal energy, hydroelectric energy, wind energy and the likes. Furthermore, the Philippines
is no stranger to strong typhoons. The Philippines is also known as a country whose On average,
our country experience 20 typhoons each year. Various typhoons wreak significant damage in the
faraway provinces in our country. Electricity in these provinces usually return after a long time
and this poses a huge trouble for the inhabitants of the said provinces because electricity serves a
vital role in their different forms of livelihood.

The researchers used this said scenario as the basis of our proposal. The said group is thinking of
a possible way to help the people residing in the places where electricity is insufficient. As a result,
the researchers decided to come up with a prototype that can solve the electricity problem. This
prototype will allow the area to have an emergency reserve of electricity in case that the power in
the said town is removed unexpectedly. By attaching the said prototype to a system of flowing
water, in this case, irrigation systems in farms, the prototype will collect electricity through the
flowing current of water. In case of floods and strong rain, the prototype will be able to generate
more electricity to put in the storage so that when a power outage occurs, the people living in the
vicinity can use the stored electricity as their substitute source of power until the power returns
and stabilizes to normal.
 1.2 Statement of the Problem

As much as possible, all of the people in our country should be provided with electrical power at
all times, especially during calamities such as strong floods and typhoons. Unfortunately, this is
not the case. The slow restoration of electricity in the far barangays of our country poses a problem
in the everyday lives of the people. The researchers’ solution is introducing the concept of using
the irrigation canals as a source of hydropower electricity. By utilizing this process, the people in
the barrio can use the stored electricity generated by the miniature power plant as a substitute
source of energy.

1.3 Purpose of the Concept

The researchers’ purpose for the creation of this proposal is to help those people greatly affected
by power outages in the rural places of our country. By providing an emergency supply of
electricity, the people can be assured that even if an unexpected power outage occurs, they have a
storage of electricity ready to be used.

1.4 Goals and objectives / research questions

OBJECTIVE:

1. The team’s main objective is to present a possible solution to the power crisis that is
happening in some provinces.

GOALS:

1. We want to find out if the mechanism will work effectively

2. We want to learn if it is durable enough to withstand constant passing of water currents
3. We want to find out if it will be able to supply sufficient energy to support the whole town.
 CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

A. RELATED LITERATURE
I. LOCAL

The National Irrigation Administration in the Philippines is eyeing a possible development of

hydropower energy on existing irrigation projects. Last May 2017, the department signed an
agreement with Nascent Technologies Corp. for the construction and development of the future
400-kW Barit Irrigation Discharge Electric Power Plant and this construction is expected to cost
around PHP 27.6 million pesos or approximately $553 600.

According to previous investigations done by the said department, there are 357 potential irrigation
sites for the development of hydropower in the country.

Other similar projects that were developed for this matter include the 1-MW Rizal Hydropower
Plant, located near the main system of the PRIS or Pampanga River Irrigation System in Nueva
Ecija and it started its operation in 2017.

(Visaya, 2017) stated that this move is part of the continuous effort of the agency to support the
government in sustaining more renewable energy sources that will help in the supplication of
power to the far reaches of the Philippines while boosting the agency’s income.

Current projects include the 8.5-MW Maris Main (South) Canal Hydroelectric Project which can
be found in Isabela and it will start its commercial operation in February 2018. Moreover, the
Marbel #1 Mini Hydropower Plant in South Cotabato and the Butao Irrigation Drop Mini
Hydropower Project in the province of Pangasinan were already approved and the memorandums
were already signed by the developers.

Ongoing negotiations are being held for the 630-kW Munoz Hydropower Project located in the
Upper PRIS, Nueva Ecija, the 1-MW Bulanao Mini-Hydropower Project in the Chico River
Irrigation System, Kalinga; the 3.6-MW Addalam Hydroelectric Project in Quirino; and the power
plant in the Agno River Integrated System found in Pangasinan, the Agno RIS Main Canal.

The agency reported that the construction of the said hydropower projects is aligned with
Presidential Decree No. 552, Section 2C dated September 11, 1974, which gives the department
the mandate to reach the best possible utilization and control of the water resources used for
irrigation purposes, secondarily for the development of hydraulic power, and for the domestic uses
of water.

Last February 2017, it was reported that the agency was working hand-in-hand with the Philippine
National Oil Renewable Corp. to make a new unit for the purpose of studying the potential of
developing and creating small-scale hydropower mechanisms to be used in irrigation facilities
across the country.

LOCAL

The National Irrigation Administration or NIA has pinpointed 32 possible sites for the
development of mini-hydro power plants in different NIA-managed irrigation systems where 26
of these are in Luzon, 2 in the Visayas region while the remaining 4 are in the Mindanao islands.
All in all, the total energy that can be generated is equal to 15 214 kW.

The idea started after the NIA Administrator Antonio S. Nangel visited Japan, where he observed
several mini-hydro power plants installed in irrigation canals. He said that if this process can be
implemented in Japan, the same procedure can also be mirrored in the Philippines where the
elevation of irrigation is similar. According to him, the project would require the installation of
turbine engines in the irrigation canals to transform it into a miniature hydro power plant. “Our
irrigation systems are mostly located in far-flung barangays and putting up this project is a great
help to the prospective beneficiaries” (Nangel, 2017)

Nangel is very optimistic that the project will turn into a success because 12 firms have already
passed their Letter of Intent or LOI, and the possible sites for development is already at 22. 2
Memorandum of Agreements were already signed for the project. The mini-hydro power plant
would be beneficial in energy generation for it will help ease the problem of lack of power in the
far barangays. The miniature power plant will not have a negative effect in irrigation requirements
for the water will just past thru the canal.

The legal basis cited for this projects include RA 9513 or the “Renewable Energy Act of 2008”
and RA 7156, known as the “Mini-Hydroelectric Power Incentives Act.” The agency also issued
Memorandum Circular No. 55 s. 2011 that describes the different guidelines on mini-
hydropower plants in irrigation canals.

II. FOREIGN

Based on research, an agricultural cooperative in the prefecture of Tochigi in Japan has been
harnessing the power of water from their irrigation canals since 2006. The Nasunogahara Land-
Use Improvement Union or NLIU Momura No. 1 and No.2 both generate 30kW and 90kW of
electricity respectively.

This device is an example of generating electricity by the use of irrigation water, which is often
used for growing rice, a water-intensive business. In Japan, the water is brought in through man-
made irrigation systems from local lakes and rivers.

In the case of the Nasunogahara, the electricity being generated by the kinetic energy from the
height gaps in the man-made channels such as gravity is enough to supply power for the different
facilities of the NLIU. The localized electricity production is efficient as it creates enough power
at the site of consumption for it doesn’t use large amounts of electricity in connecting, before being
distributed from the transmission grid.

Because of the emergence of this type of electricity production, CO2 emissions from electricity
generation become negligible. Mini-hydropower plants are expected to cause less environmental
damage to the environment, compared to the large-scale power plants.

Moreover, the financial benefits of using smaller hydropower plants are expected. For the case of
the NLIU, the four main generators cost 100 million Yen or approximately 12 million USD,
including the installation and equipment. The NLIU expects a long-term return on investment in
one decade.
 CHAPTER 3
SYNTHESIS
3.1 Concept Description
The researchers thought about a way on how would remote areas in provinces can generate
electricity during rainy seasons or in the presence of a typhoon. They came up with an idea where
they can use the presence of the rain to generate electricity using the irrigation system. The flow
of the current in the irrigation would be used to conduct electricity. The flow of electricity now
travels into a generator and then to our homes. This will be used as a substitute source of energy
for the mean time until power comes back again.

3.2 Methodology
The current of the water in the irrigation system will enter a turbine where it will make use of the
water currents passing through the irrigation system to generate electricity. From the turbine the
converted energy will store up in a large generator. Then, energy from the generator will be
transferred into large battery packs that will be applied in a pole step down transformer before it
reaches and supplies into their homes. It will automatically provide electricity for their homes
during moments of power outages.

3.3 Timeline

The group was tasked to create possible innovative solutions as a way to solve different problems
that is occurring in the Philippines. After several attempts of brainstorming, the group decided to
tackle the issue of electricity in the faraway provinces of the Philippines. The researchers’ came
up with the idea of installing miniature hydropower plants on the different irrigation systems in
our provinces, since the Philippines is an agricultural country. We started creating the research
paper on the 29th day of August and finished on the 14th day of September. If we started making
the mechanical part of the concept today, it will take about three to four weeks before it can be
finished. Afterwards, the installation time would take two to three weeks before the whole system
can be considered operational.
3.4 Budget

The materials to be used in creating a single prototype is aluminum metal, stainless steel for the
turbines, 10 meter long cables and a generator. For a single prototype, 3 kilograms of aluminum
sheet are needed, costing around 8 000 pesos. 1 kilogram of stainless steel sheet is needed to create
the turbines, which costs around 1 500 pesos. 10 meter copper wires are needed to have the best
effect intended for the electricity to pass through easily, with a cost of 2 000 pesos. A generator
costs around 3 000 pesos. For this specific prototype, we will be constructing a 3 feet by 3 feet
square hydropower plant.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ingram, E. (2017, May 23). Philippines administration eyeing hydropower development on

irrigation systems. Retrieved September 1, 2017, from
http://www.hydroworld.com/articles/2017/05/philippines-administration-eyeing-hydropower-
development-on-irrigation-systems.html

Mini-Hydro Power Plants in Irrigation Systems. (2012, April 27). Retrieved September 3, 2017,
from http://www.nia.gov.ph/?q=content%2Fmini-hydro-power-plants-irrigation-systems

Suwa, A. (2009, December 28). How Things Work: Micro Hydroelectricity in Japan. Retrieved
September 7, 2017, from https://ourworld.unu.edu/en/rice-water-power-micro-
hydroelectricity-in-japan