A GIS-Based Integrated Multi-Stage Screening Framework for Preliminary Small-Scale Hydropower Site Selection

Endah Sri Rejeki; Lily Montarcih Limantara; M. Bisri; Runi Asmaranto

doi:10.48084/etasr.19222

Authors

Endah Sri Rejeki Department of Water Resources, Faculty of Engineering, University of Brawijaya, Indonesia
Lily Montarcih Limantara Department of Water Resources, Faculty of Engineering, University of Brawijaya, Indonesia
M. Bisri Department of Water Resources, Faculty of Engineering, University of Brawijaya, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9296-3626
Runi Asmaranto Department of Water Resources, Faculty of Engineering, University of Brawijaya, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3165-3632

Volume: 16 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 37800-37811 | August 2026 | https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.19222

Received: 9 April 2026 | Revised: 18 May 2026, 31 May 2026, and 4 June 2026 | Accepted: 5 June 2026 | Online: 18 June 2026

Corresponding author: Lily Montarcih Limantara

Abstract

Small-scale hydropower plants (PLTM, Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Minihidro) play an important role in decentralizing the renewable energy systems, particularly in the river-rich regions. However, the site selection for PLTM remains a complex problem due to the hydrological reliability, technical feasibility, spatial planning constraints, and local energy demand. This study develops a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based multi-stage screening approach for preliminary identification and prioritization of potential PLTM sites at the watershed scale. The approach integrates the hydrological modeling derived from calibrated SWAT simulations, technical feasibility indicators, including gross head and potential power output, energy contribution assessment, and spatial conformity analysis, into a sequential screening workflow. The method was applied to the Lesti River Basin, Indonesia, where the 17 preliminary candidate locations were initially identified. After integrating the hydrological technical feasibility, energy contribution assessment, and land-use conformity analysis, seven sites were classified as technically feasible, while two locations were identified as the high-priority candidates. The results indicate that integrating multiple feasibility constraints substantially reduces the overestimation of potential sites compared with the conventional resource-based screening approaches. The proposed workflow provides a practical tool for the preliminary watershed-scale PLTM screening in data-limited environments; however, the approach is intended for the preliminary assessment and does not replace the detailed feasibility studies involving the hydraulic loss modeling, economic evaluation, and grid integration analysis.

Keywords:

Geographic Information System (GIS)-based assessment, mini hydropower, multi-criteria analysis, mini hydropower planning

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