DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/ijpd.11.2.96-109

Hydrological Assessment of Urban Flood Potential for Micro-Hydropower Development in Malang City Using the Rational Method

*Mokhammad Khatami orcid  -  Department of Mechanical Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Malang, Jl. Soekarno-Hatta No.9, Kota Malang, Indonesia 65141, Indonesia
Mohammad Faishol Fawwaz  -  Department of Civil Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Malang, Jl. Soekarno-Hatta No.9, Kota Malang, Indonesia 65141, Indonesia
Muhammad Fakhriyan  -  Department of Civil Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Malang, Jl. Soekarno-Hatta No.9, Kota Malang, Indonesia 65141, Indonesia
Ratih Indri Hapsari orcid scopus  -  Department of Civil Engineering, Politeknik Negeri Malang, Jl. Soekarno-Hatta No.9, Kota Malang, Indonesia 65141, Indonesia
Received: 28 Oct 2025; Revised: 22 May 2026; Accepted: 23 Jun 2026; Available online: 22 Oct 2026; Published: 22 Oct 2026.
Editor(s): Jonatan Anderias Lassa

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Abstract

Flooding has become a recurring hydrometeorological hazard in Malang City, Indonesia, driven by high-intensity tropical rainfall and rapid urbanization that reduces infiltration capacity and increases surface runoff. While prior studies have focused primarily on flood mitigation, the potential utilization of urban floodwater as a renewable energy resource remains underexplored. This study aims to evaluate the preliminary potential of converting urban flood discharge into micro-hydropower (MHP) energy within urban drainage systems. Design rainfall was estimated using the Log-Pearson Type III distribution based on a 10-year dataset, while peak flood discharge was calculated using the Rational Method. Hydraulic characteristics of the drainage channel were analysed using Manning’s equation, and energy conversion was assessed using standard hydropower formulations under low-head conditions (2–4 m). The results indicate that design discharges ranging from 2.215 to 2.758 m³/s can generate an estimated power output between 36.89 kW and 91.90 kW, demonstrating that urban flood runoff has measurable energy potential within the micro-hydropower range (<100 kW). However, this study represents a preliminary feasibility assessment, as it focuses on peak discharge conditions without fully capturing temporal flow variability. The use of the Rational Method introduces limitations, including assumptions of uniform rainfall intensity and the inability to represent hydrograph dynamics, which may affect the accuracy of energy estimation. Additionally, validation is constrained by limited observed flood discharge data. Despite these limitations, the findings highlight that flood-prone urban drainage corridors can function as dual-purpose infrastructure for both flood mitigation and decentralized energy generation. This approach supports the development of sustainable and resilient urban systems aligned with renewable energy and climate adaptation goals.

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Keywords: Urban Flood Management; Micro-Hydropower Potential; Rational Method; Renewable Energy; Urban Drainage Systems; Malang City
Funding: Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Indonesia) – Program Kreativitas Mahasiswa (PKM) 2022 under contract PKM2022-1229/D4/KM.01.00/2022

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