Navigating the Water – Energy – Food (WEF) Nexus in Rural Development: A Case Study of the Cintamekar Micro-Hydro Power Project in Indonesia

Abstract

This study analyzes the interactions, synergies, and trade-offs within the Water–Energy–Food (WEF) Nexus at the Cintamekar Micro-Hydro Power Plant (PLTMh) in Subang, Indonesia. Using interviews, observations, and document analysis, the research identifies how water flows simultaneously sustain hydropower generation and agricultural irrigation, generating Water–Energy and Water–Food linkages. A critical finding is the emergence of a WEF trade-off after the PLTMh shutdown in 2022, when water previously allocated to energy generation was redirected entirely to irrigation, prioritizing food security while eliminating renewable energy production. This condition shows how nexus interactions are shaped not only by technical flows but also by institutional capacity, governance vulnerabilities, and dependencies on single-resource infrastructure. The study contributes by explaining how WEF trade-offs materialize during system disruptions, demonstrating the decisive role of local institutional capacity in maintaining nexus synergies, and identifying the absence of an Energy–Food linkage as a significant empirical gap in rural run-of-river hydropower systems. These findings enhance framework understanding of WEF dynamics in rural contexts and offer practical insights for designing resilient, community-based renewable energy strategies.