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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Energy & Infrastructure

Bandung Barat Village Stays Lit During Blackouts With Independent Micro-Hydro Power

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Residents of Kampung Tangsijaya in Bandung Barat, West Java, maintain electricity supply through a self-managed micro-hydro power plant, unaffected by PLN's rolling blackouts.
  • The community has relied on this independent energy source since the early 1990s, utilizing the stable flow of the Ciputri River.
  • Although PLN now services the area, many residents continue to use the micro-hydro system due to its low cost of Rp 25,000 per month for maintenance and operator incentives.

In the Bandung Barat region of West Java, Indonesia, the village of Kampung Tangsijaya in Gununghalu sub-district remains illuminated despite rolling blackouts affecting the national electricity supply. Residents here are not dependent on the state electricity company, PLN, but instead power their homes through a self-managed Micro Hydro Power Plant (PLTMH). This initiative, managed by the Rimba Lestari Producers Cooperative, provides electricity to approximately 80 to 90 homes by harnessing the flow of the Ciputri River.

Around the 1990s, we still used kerosene lamps.

— Opan SopandiDescribing the village's energy situation before the micro-hydro plant.

The community's journey towards energy independence began in the early 1990s, long before PLN's electricity reached their remote, hilly area. Faced with limited access, villagers ingeniously constructed simple wooden water wheels connected to self-assembled dynamos made from used motor magnets. Initially, each dynamo generated only 100 to 300 watts, sufficient for a single household's lighting needs. The consistent and strong current of the Ciputri River proved to be the key enabler for this sustainable energy solution.

One water wheel is usually for one house, so almost every house has a water wheel installed in the river.

— Opan SopandiExplaining the initial setup of the micro-hydro system.

Full realization of their energy aspirations came in 2007 with the construction of the PLTMH. A small dam was built on a mountainside to channel water through a 70-centimeter pipe to the power house. Here, a turbine processes a water flow of 400 liters to produce 20 amperes of electricity, with 18 amperes distributed to the households. Even though PLN lines are now accessible, a significant number of the 80 households continue to use the PLTMH system. The low monthly fee of Rp 25,000 covers maintenance costs and operator incentives, making it an attractive and affordable option for the residents. Cooperative Chairman Opan Sopandi emphasized that these fees are not for profit but ensure the continuous operation and upkeep of the plant.

In the power house, electricity is produced. Meanwhile, we return the water to the river. It just passes through, without damaging the environment.

— Opan SopandiDescribing the operation of the micro-hydro power plant.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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