Mini hydropower for rural development

Rural electrification enjoys high priority on Indonesia's development agenda. In remote villages located beyond the reach of national electricity grids, mini hydropower offers an environmentally friendly alternative to decentralized electricity generation. Technical assistance programs have successfully introduced mini hydro technology in developing countries but have often failed to attain sustainable plant operation. This book provides insight into the multifaceted conditions under which village communities are struggling to keep systems running. A new approach linking productive electricity use and mini hydro operation is developed which incorporates experiences of market-oriented approaches in small enterprise development. Village communities are no longer left alone after the commissioning of the plants but are continuously provided need-oriented services. The study is exceptional in that the approach is experimentally applied in an actual project involving a village-owned coffee roastery. It is shown that the new approach not only contributes to a sustainable electricity supply but also to village development.