This article explores how the public might actively participate in renewable energy projects by studying the role of local and credentialed experts in the development of micro-hydro technology for self-supply (off-grid electrification) or commercialization (on-grid electrification) in Central Java, Indonesia. All of the data were gathered qualitatively, including semi-structured interviews with local experts and energy experts, as well as interviews with local entrepreneurs, private companies, government agencies, end users, and civil society groups. Other methods included document analysis, observations, and site visits. The research found that credentialed and local experts have distinct sets of expertise and roles that complement one another. This challenges the “deficit” model of public understanding of science, which often claims that energy projects fail due to a lack of policy-relevant knowledge. The expertise of locals, their financial situation, and their geographic location are all considered to be linked with the design of micro-hydro technology, which is most typically run-of-river. While micro-hydro design is often related to “decentralization,” standardized expertise has emerged as a critical impediment to alternative energy commercialization. This article concludes that public participation, supported by decentralized policies, is required to drive future growth and maintain the long-term viability of micro-hydro technology.
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One early March morning in 2021, three people led us to a forest where a micro-hydro power plant had been constructed. We walked two miles over a plantation to reach our destination. Two of them were in charge of inspecting river flows, looking for blockages, and making sure that the forest was intact and undamaged. The third used a voltage meter to test the components in the power house. Despite having no official training in engineering or similar areas, they appear to be professionals, and the micro-hydro they had constructed seemed to be in fine working order. This is just one example of the efforts of local farmers to provide alternative energy technology in a remote area of Central Java, Indonesia.
Indonesia had reached an electrification rate of 99.20% as of the end of 2020 (Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia Citation2021a). Despite progress achieved by the Indonesian government over the last decade through the National Electricity Company (PLN), a state-owned company responsible for the country’s electricity grid, the remaining locations without access to electricity are primarily found in remote areas. As the PLN electricity grid continues to have difficulty reaching remote areas, expanding electrification in remote regions does not seem to be a top priority.
