Outer Island Operation
Mario Sukulbech
Outer Island Operation Manager
The Outer Island Operation covers all the inhabited islands in the Outer Islands of Yap, from Ulithi Atoll all the way to Satawal Island the most eastern island in Yap State. At present there are three (3) diesel power plants, 12 solar plants, 326 stand alone, solar home systems and 20 stand-alone community solar systems. A total of 44 regular and contract employees of YSPSC are manning the various operations to provide 24/7 electricity services to the OI customers.
Although not every households in these islands are connected or receiving power from our grid, it is true to say that everyone in the islands is benefiting from the power we provide in one form or another. If one has to estimate on homes and facilities connected that would be 80% but if present population benefiting from this services that would be 99%.
INSTALLED CAPACITY OF DIESEL GENERATOR AND RENEWAL ENERGY IN THE OI
| 229. | Diesel generator | 0 kw |
| 230. | REP- 5 Solar | 3 kwp |
| 231. | French govt | 0 kwp |
| 232. | SPC/North-REP | 77 kwp |
| 233. | Total RE | 317.07 kwp |
| CLASS | F. ULITHI | ASOR | MOGMOG | FADRAY | FAIS | F. WOLEAI | SATAWAL | CLS TOTAL |
| RES | 95 | 19 | 53 | 32 | 77 | 60 | 122 | 458 |
| COM | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 36 |
| GOV’T | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 44 |
| ISL TOTAL | 115 | 26 | 59 | 39 | 85 | 74 | 140 | 538 |
FALALOP ULITHI
2 Diesel generators 40kw & 90kw
1 Solar mini-grid for OIHS 62.7 kwp (incomplete)
20,117 gallons used last year
MOGMOG, ULITHI
1 Diesel generator 35kw (used)
2 Lister generator 6kw each (trial)
1 Solar 47.8 kwp (incomplete) (NORTH-REP)
We are in the process of reconstructing the solar system using new electronics to complete the system and make it work it work the way it should be. Materials are here and reconstruction will begin next month.
FALALOP WOLEAI
1 Diesel generator 52.0 kw
1 solar system 41.04 kwp
2 Diesel generator 42kw (on order)
9,332 gallons used last year
ASOR ULITHI EDF 9
1 micro-grid solar system 19.5 kwp
SATAWAL ISLAND (NORTH-REP)
4 micro-grid system 15.39 kwp
All the systems are working on limited capacity due to incomplete installation and problem with electronics. Nevertheless, all are providing power.
FADRAY ULITHI EDF 9
1 micro-grid solar system 28.08kwp
(Both Asor and Fadray were part of the EDF9 EU funding program and were installed over 9 years ago. Until recently, the systems were working without any problem. But due to aging batteries and the electronics being exposed to water during the last major storm, we are beginning to have some problems with some of the electronics. But the most important and urgent now is replacing at least one battery bank from each of the system.
FAIS ISLAND (SPC NORTH-REP)
1micro-grids 15.39 kwp (80% operational)
1 micro-grid 18.81 kwp (80% operational)
1 micro-grid 15.39kwp (incomplete)
We are in the process of going out to Fais to work on the incomplete system to put it in service. All materials are here and will be shipped out. Planned installation of all the electronics is this week and hopefully it will be up and running next week.
EF2 ISLANDS
The plan was to install 336 Solar Home Systems and 22, Solar Community Systems on the 11 inhabitant islands in the OI beside those that are already using power or on-going installations.
The community systems are serving their purpose or at least those that are still operating, as we encountered problems with the outback inverters on most of these.
The problem with the other smaller systems or the solar homes systems is that some are claiming it’s too small for their purposes and other are saying it is costing too much.
Dealing with logistic in the OI area of operation is never an easy task for management. The remoteness of some of these islands makes it very hard to keep up with operation needs as well as collection of revenue.
The problem the state is facing with transportation is only contributing to fuel shortage as well as delivering needed battery water to the solar operations. Many time during the past years we have to shut down generators and wait for fuel to be available.
We are also dealing with old and aging equipment generators which does not help with parts are needed and no means to deliver to the site even if available in Yap.
| CLASS | RES | COM | GOVT |
| EURPIK | 19/14 | 0 | 2 |
| FALALIS | 16/9 | 0 | 2 |
| WOTGEI | 29/23 | 0 | 2 |
| SELIP | 21/19 | 0 | 2 |
| TAGOLAP | 17/17 | 0 | 2 |
| IFALIK | 91/48 | 0 | 2 |
| PIIG | 21/16 | 0 | 2 |
| FARAULAP | 24/15 | 0 | 2 |
| ELATO | 24/17 | 0 | 2 |
| LAMOTREK | 64/52 | 0 | 2 |
| TOTAL | 326/230 | 0 | 20 |