Renewable Energy Research, Education and Training

atThe University of the South

Pacific

Atul Raturi

RE Sector Jobs

“Difficult to Fill” RE occupations (ILO, 2011)

Wind energy Project developers; service technicians; data analysts; electrical, computer, mechanical and construction engineers.

Solar energy Photovoltaic and solar thermal system installers and maintainers; building inspectors.

Hydropower Electrical, and operations and maintenance engineers; technicians; tradespersons; sustainability specialists.

Geothermal Trainers; geothermal engineers.

Bioenergy R&D and design engineers; service technician; trainers.

RE Sector Jobs

Needs Assessment

IRENA has identified the following key actions ( based on FAESP) for RE development in the Pacific

Strengthen institutional frameworks in the energy sector Strengthen strategic energy planning Strengthen policy and regulatory frameworks Strengthen the collection and management of energy data Assess and monitor renewable energy resource potentials Assess grid stability for high shares of RE integration Harmonise technical standards for implementation of RE technologies Harmonisation of RE standards and certification systems for national and

regional deployment of RE

Capacity Development in Sustainable Energy at all levels Develop bankable renewable projects

USP Strategic Plan( 2013-18)

The overarching themes of the University’s activities are Human Security and Sustainable Development.

Priority Areas

Learning and Teaching

Student Support

Research and Internationalisation

Information and Communication Technologies

Regional and Community Engagement

Our People

Governance, Management, Leadership and

Continuous Improvement.

Strategic Themes

Pacific cultures and societies

Pacific Oceans and Natural Resources

Human Capacity Building and Leadership

Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change

Economic Growth, Regional Cooperation and Integration for Sustainable Pacific Economies

ICT and the Knowledge Economy

Government, Public Policy and Social Cohesion

Renewable EnergyProgrammes @USP

PG Programmes:

• PG Diploma in Renewable Energy

• Masters in Renewable Energy

(Engineering/Physics)

• Ph.D. in Renewable Energy

(Engineering/Physics)

UG Progarmmes:

• Undergraduate courses in Renewable Energy

Vocational Training

RE research @USP

Solar resource Wave power Assessment Wind Power assessments and turbines

Solar PV-standalone, GC, EV charging

Ocean Energy devices Hybrid System Opimization

Standalone PV systems

Design and performance Analysis

Solar Resource Analysis

Partial Shading Analysis, Temperature effects

GCPV Systems

• Design and performance Analysis

• Grid Interaction studies

USP/KOICA 45kW system

One of the first GCPV systems in Fiji

Banish the Kerosene Lamp Project

• Testing and Characterization of Solar LED lights

• Research on Microfinancing strategies for solar lighting

Electric Vehicle Charging System

• Investigate the viability of Solar Electric Vehicles in the PICs

Fabrication and Characterizationof Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

Gratzel Cells : Third Generation Solar cells that mimic Photosynthesis. We use flower dyes as sensitizers

Kalyanasundaram & Gratzel

Optimization and Analysis of RE Systems; Energy Modelling

HOMER

LEAP

Ocean Energy Research

• Orbital motion driven small Savonius rotors

• OWC wave energy converters

• Other Technologies: OTEC, Tidal Power

• Tidal Energy and OTEC

Biofuels /Biomass Research

• CNO BlendsDevelopment of Hybrid fuels with coconut oil as the main ingredient for diesel engines.

• Ethanol from Cassava Viability studies for using locally grown cassava varieties.

• W2E

• Biofuel Testing Laboratory

USP-FDOE collaboration - Regional accredited fuel test facility.

Geothermal Research

• Self Potential Measurements

• Thermal Mapping

• Geothermal potential Mapping

R &D Areas

• Storage solutions: Pumped hydro, batteries etc.

• Grid stability studies with higher RE (Wind and solar) penetration : simulation studies

• Smart Grids and Control systems

• Resource assessments and data analysis

• Biofuel, W2E

• Geothermal Energy

• Ocean energy: Development of blades, turbines

• Energy planning and modelling

• USP Carbon Footprint Reduction

USP- KOICA Renewable Energy Project

Funded under the East Asia Climate Change Partnership- 2 M USD.

Three components :

1. Renewable Energy assessment in all 12 USP membercountries and establishment of a Data Bank at USP.

2. Renewable Energy Capacity Building in the USP region.

3. Establishment of a 45 kW grid-connected solar PV system at the USP Laucala lower Campus and development of a Renewable Energy Training Centre.

Project Period: 2010- 2013

USP/ASU VOCTEC Programme

USAID funded project: Train the Trainer and Technician Regional workshops on PV systems.

12 PICs with USP oversight . More than 30 trainers and 100 technicians have been trained so far.

Facilities (Wind and Ocean Energy)

Wave Channel: 2D wave channel- 3500 mm x 300 mm x 450 mm; Sinusoidal wave producer

Wind Tunnel : single stage centrifugal flow fan – air speed up to 48.77 m/s. Test sections size: 303 mm x 303 mm x 1000 mm

Facilities ( Biomass and Bio fuel)

IKA Bomb Calorimeter :Determination of calorific values of various fuels.

Dynamometer : For testing Bio fuel based engine performance and efficiency

Facilities :Bio fuel Testing Lab

ICP- OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectroscopy) machine: Determination of Phosphorus and other elements in biofuels

FDOE –USP collaboration : An accredited fuel testing laboratory

Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers, HPLC, UV/IR spectrophotometers etc.

Facilities ( Solar PV )

IKS Solartrainer : Standalone and Grid connected PV system simulation and analysis, IV plotters, IR cameras

Dedicated Renewable Energy Training Lab : Solar Powered

Sponsored RE Projects

• L3EAP

• PACTVET

• Solar PV based Refrigeration system for a rural fishing community : French Pacific Funds.

• Solar Water Pumping for rural schools: ROC Funds

Finally..

Trained Manpower is key to achieving the goal of Sustainable Energy for All.

Applied research and appropriate technology development/adaptation will play a crucial role in building a sustainable future for the Pacific Islands region. USP is pleased to be able to assist the PICTS in their efforts.