The power of moving water has been used since ancient times to mill flour, pump water, move grindstones and sawmills, and help drive simple machinery. But it was only towards the end of the 19th century that the energy generated by flowing water was first harnessed to produce electricity – this mobility of water into energy is hydropower.
Hydropower works on a stunningly simple principle: water flowing through a dam turns a turbine, which drives a generator to produce electricity. In recent years, however, numerous studies have outlined the downside of building large reservoirs – upsetting the natural flow of the river, killing biodiversity, flooding large acres of land that uproots communities and locals and changing weather patterns. Not really under the jurisdiction of clean, green energy.
Run-of-river hydropower, on the other hand, uses the natural head and flow curve of the river. Diverting water upstream, usually through a pipe, to a downstream turbine to generate power before it reenters the stream. The natural flow of the river stays in tact. There is minimal environmental impact and zero carbon emissions. Also remote areas, which are genuinely affected by low power supply and poor infrastructure, can benefit from renewable energy generation through run-of-river plants.
At Arkora Hydro, we want to work with these remote communities to tap into Indonesia’s vast number of natural sites that are feasible for run-of-river hydropower developments. As we build our projects, we work with the locales – providing employment and training, building roads and schools and upping energy provisions for further economic development. We create a shared value – revenue for shareholders, social and environmental development and meaningful work for our employees. With this belief in sustainability at the core of our vision, we hope to develop hydropower into a leading energy source in Indonesia.
