Current status and issues on sustained management and operations of micro hydropower generation in the remote area in Indonesia: a case study in the Ciptagelar village

Abstract

　Several economic, social, and environmental issues affect sustained operations of microhydropower generation (MHP) in economically developing countries. Nevertheless, few studies have conducted field investigations to clarify practical issues that MHP stakeholders face or have proposed ways of resolving such issues. This study investigated the current status of MHP in Ciptagelar village, West Java, Indonesia, to summarize and elucidate issues related to sustained MHP operations. Results revealed issues related to budgeting and techniques for maintaining and operating MHP in the village. We found the difficulty of the village in securing funds for repairing broken intake weirs and maintaining the MHP facility. We also found that the intake weirs were vulnerable to large floods, and no accomplished technician was available for properly operating MHP in the village.