Projects

The Brenwe Hydropower Station is a Design and Construct, new build Hydropower Scheme in Malekula, Vanuatu. This was funded by both the Asian Development Bank and the Vanuatu government.

The run of river scheme is comprised of an 18m wide concrete weir with fish passage which takes water via Coanda screens into 1km of large diameter (900 to 1100mm) glass reinforced pipes (GRP) Headstock. Water level is stabilised in a 5m x 5m x 9m concrete surge tank. The surge tank is complete with a 9m high structural steel surge tower and releasing water through 600mm GRP Pipes, down an 160m long, 40° slope to the Powerhouse. A fabricated steel bifurcation pipe splits the water between 2 Pelton wheel turbines with Marelli Generators capable of generating 270kW of power each (550KW total Output). The current peak grid demand in Malekula is only around 220kW with typical daily needs of 150kW well and truly catered for by one generator and turbine set.

The Generators operate in “Island mode” to supply 100% renewal energy to the Malekula grid and in the year ahead to 9 new villages across the island. Prior to the MAP team arrival on the island only 10% of the population had access to reticulated power and on the completion of the project over 50% of Malekula’s population now has access to clean renewable energy reducing diesel consumption by some 500,000 litres annually (and more which shipping and logistics is accounted for).

Big shout out to Consortium Partner Vortex who delivered the Mechanical and Electrical works in this similarly challenging and remote environment.

This very challenging project was one of a very small number of the ADB funded projects that actually went ahead during the COVID lockdowns, where international shipping and materials production ground to a halt. The project was also hindered by 3 years of back to back La Nina weather patterns that saw almost 1 meter of rainfall on the project over 6 weeks from August until September 2021, which is usually peak dry season. We were also battered by Cyclone Judy and Kevin during which the river levels rose by 3 meters and washed out the site.

MAP Projects as the lead contractor employed around 70 local Ni-Vanuatu who we trained to deliver all areas of works including the batching and pouring of some 400m3 of concrete, erection of large steel framing, installation of roofing and cladding on the powerhouse and the placing of pipes through unforgiving terrain including the placing of a concrete staircase next to the hand dug of 600mm diameter penstock pipes on that 40° slope!