Abstract
This article explores how the public mightactively participate in renewable energy projects by studying the role of localand credentialed experts in the development of micro-hydro technology forself-supply (off-grid electrification) or commercialization (on-gridelectrification) in Central Java, Indonesia. All of the data were gatheredqualitatively, including semi-structured interviews with local experts andenergy experts, as well as interviews with local entrepreneurs, privatecompanies, government agencies, end users, and civil society groups. Othermethods included document analysis, observations, and site visits. The researchfound that credentialed and local experts have distinct sets of expertise androles that complement one another. This challenges the “deficit” model ofpublic understanding of science, which often claims that energy projects faildue to a lack of policy-relevant knowledge. The expertise of locals, theirfinancial situation, and their geographic location are all considered to be linkedwith the design of micro-hydro technology, which is most typicallyrun-of-river. While micro-hydro design is often related to “decentralization,”standardized expertise has emerged as a critical impediment to alternativeenergy commercialization. This article concludes that public participation,supported by decentralized policies, is required to drive future growth andmaintain the long-term viability of micro-hydro technology.
Keywords:
Public engagement decentralization Indonesia
micro-hydro technology
alternative energy
