Assessing the post-construction support for solar water-pumping systems in rural communities in Indonesia

Community-scale solar water-pumping systems (SWPSs) have become ideal alternatives for remote villages that lack electricity and water access. In Indonesia, SWPSs have been installed in many villages, but they often malfunction. Although technical studies are available, evidence showing the effect of post-construction support on the interplay in SWPS projects is scarce. Therefore, this study examined the post-construction support from the perspectives of the communities and local actors in four SWPS projects in rural Indonesia using a questionnaire survey. Three types of support were considered in the research framework and selected as dependent variables for regression analysis: capacity building, financial assistance, and technical assistance. Data were collected from 275 beneficiaries and 11 local actors, including local governments and implementing organizations, and statistical analysis was conducted. The results showed that, on average, the communities perceived that the community-based organization (CBO)-a local team that manages SWPS projects-was incapable of solving problems independently. Moreover, the existing support was inadequate and did not meet the requirements of the communities. This study found three determinants of the need for support: technical skills, funds for technical assistance, and financial management (eigenvalues of 2.89, 1.51, and 1.23, respectively). Logistic regression analysis revealed that technical skills were particularly crucial because this factor significantly determined the need for all types of support (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). However, relying on the support of local actors is difficult, because of their limited resource availability. These findings highlight the significance and role of the support aspect in achieving the sustainability of renewable energy projects in rural areas. Although increased effort to improve the capabilities of the CBOs is necessary, future projects must also consider the trade-off between renewable energy technology and the consequent need for support. Accordingly, designing projects that promote support from all stakeholders is imperative.