Evaluation of Micro Hydro Power Plants in Central Java toward Sustainability against Hydrology Condition of Watershed

Abstract

Land degradation on the upstream of watershed will affect hydrology condition in a way that it will disrupt the sustainability of its existing micro hydro. The purpose of this study is to evaluate micro hydro power plant in central Java toward sustainability against hydrology condition of watershed. This study is using River Regime Coefficient (RRC) approach where hydrology of watershed with coefficient value less than 50 is classified as non-critical, between 50 and 120 is moderate and more than 120 is critical. Result of the study that was done on 33 micro hydro power plants scattered on 9 watersheds is showing that there are 2 power plants on 2 watersheds have hydrology condition in non-critical status (9.09%), 1 power plant on 1 watershed is in between critical and non-critical status (3.03%), 21 power plants on 3 watersheds are in between critical and moderate status (63.64%), 8 power plants on 6 watersheds are in critical status (21.21%) and 1 power plant on 1 watershed is in between moderate and critical status (3.03%).