Micro Hydro, Generator of Light in Forest Tourist Village

Kompas/Defri Werdiono

A member of the Sumbersuko Forest Park’s management team, on Friday (5/1), shows how a micro hydro, which uses an old dynamo from a genset, works as a power generator using water energy in Sumberseko village, Wagir district, Malang regency, East Java.

A pine forest at the edge of Kenongo subdistrict in Sumbersuko village, Malang regency, East Java has transformed into a tourist area that supports the people around it. The area has come to life due to simple micro hydro technology and its people’s spirit of independence.

Cloudy skies loom over a pine forest in Kenongo, which is located 20 kilometers from the city of Malang, that Friday (5/2) afternoon. Leftover rain water that fell all night can still be seen, making the mountain air even colder. After Friday prayers, one or two visitors started arriving. They want to enjoy Sumbersuko Forest Park’s pine forest, a new tourist area at the foot of Mount Kawi.

While waiting for tourists, Sumardi, 28, one of the members of Sumbersuko village’s Love Nature Forest Park Tourism Conscious Group (Pokdarwis), spared some time to check the micro hydro generator located on the riverbank, not far from the forest entrance.

Since it was made three months ago, the micro hydro generator has illuminated the 1.8-hectare tourist area, which is located on a piece of land belonging to Perhutani. The device also turns on some street lights and lights up several small shops in the area.

Kompas/ Defri Werdiono

A number of tourists enjoy the atmosphere at the Sumbersuko Forest Park in Sumbersuko village, Wagir district, Malang regency, East Java, on Friday (5/1).

Forty-four lights are powered by electricity from the micro hydro generator, said Sumardi, who was appointed as the caretaker of the micro hydro power generator. He then showed a switch and the flow of electricity to several spots.

The micro hydro energy program was initiated by Arik, a youth from Sumbersuko, who is a graduate from a university in Malang. The micro hydro device made by Arik offers a solution to the problem faced by tourism with regards to energy.

In the past, tourist areas found it difficult to get electricity because the nearest electricity network is located 1.5 kilometers from the forest area. However, Arik and Sumbersuko village youths did not run out of ideas. They made use of a small river that runs from three springs, namely Sumber Duk, Nget and Judel. The flow of water is strong, and the river is never dry, even in dry seasons. They started thinking about how they could make use of the river. Eventually, with the available equipment, they tried to make use of the gushing river flow.

The micro hydro device, which was made by the youths of the village, works in a simple way. The flow of river water is redirected using a water pipe. The spray of water that comes out the pipe spins the dynamo.

Other than offering hiking trails, Sumbersuko Forest Park boasts a few interesting selfie spots.

The energy produced is then channeled to light bulbs. “So, it does not use wooden turbines as in other places,” said Anwar, management head of Pokdarwis, who first came up with the idea of making the tourist area.

The device cost around Rp 3 million (US$224) to make, which was taken from contributions from local youths. The joy of the locals peaked when they managed to turn on a light from a simple micro hydro machine.

With 1,500-2,000 watts, the availability of micro hydro-electricity has helped the area, even though it is still limited.

“Before it was used for micro hydro [electricity], this river was only used to wash the people’s motorbikes. Now the river can be used to support forest tourism,” Anwar said.

New tourism

Sumbersuko Forest Park, which was built by residents, was established in August of last year. Other than offering hiking trails, it boasts a few interesting selfie spots. The management said that the site is still being built.

Kompas/ Defri Werdiono

Tourists enjoy the atmosphere at the Sumbersuko Forest Park in Sumbersuko village, Wagir district, Malang regency, East Java, on Friday (5/1).

Sumbersuko Forest Park can also be an alternative tourist site for tourists headed to Mount Kawi, which is known as a spiritual tourism site that attract a lot of tourists at certain times of year.

In Kawi, there is a site believed to be the home of Mpu Sendok, a descendant of Syailendra from Central Java who moved to East Java in the 9^th century.

“From a historical point of view, Sumbersuko is also close to Mount Katu. This mountain has its own story. Ken Arok, the founder of the Tumapel Kingdom [Singasari], stopped there to prepare his strategy for war,” said Sumberseko village head Subekhan.

Sumberseko Forest Park, which is located in the eastern slope of Mount Kawi, is becoming more and more crowded on the weekends. The money collected parking fees is used to manage the tourist site. Motorbikes are charged Rp 3,000, while cars are charged Rp 5,000 each.

“The monthly income [from parking fees] has yet to reach Rp 10 million. All of the [money] is still used for development,” Anwar said.

Kompas/ Defri Werdiono

A tour manager walking along the Sumbersuko Forest Park in Sumbersuko village, Wagir district, Malang regency, East Java, on Friday (5/1).

Outside of tourism, the tourist site can work to preserve the environment; the presence of a micro hydro generator encourages the people to care more about water sources. As of today, the existing spring is used as a source of clean water for the people in three villages, namely Kenongo, Ngemplak and Glagahombo villages, with a total population of around 4,500 people.