Hydropower is a well-known renewable energy source generating clean, secure, and predictable electric power. It has zero carbon emission, low operational cost, and virtually zero greenhouse gas emission. With the technology of over one hundred years, hydropower is considered as the most established technology to provide energy in a small or large scale. By far, hydropower is the largest renewable energy produced accounting for 90% of the total renewable energy worldwide [1]. In 2010, hydropower has been utilized in 150countrieswithinstalledcapacityof860GWandEurope having the highest installed capacity followed by East Asia andOceania[2]. While large hydropower plants feed the national grid, typical off-grid microhydro is the most popular solution for electrification among rural communities which supplies powerintherangeof5–100kWwhichusuallyusearun-ofthe-river to divert some of the water from the river before dropping into a pressurized penstock. The water potential
energy from the gravitational force over height difference is convertedtorotationalmechanicalenergy.Ahydroturbineis usedtotransformenergyfromtheflowingwatertomechanical rotational energy and then a generator transforms the rotational mechanical energy to electrical energy regulated by electric control system. Microhydro configurations vary depending on the topography and hydrological site conditions[3]. Themaincomponentsthatcomprisetypicalmicrohydro schemes are electromechanical equipments, civil structures, and energy distribution systems [4]. An optimum operational design, smart selection of equipment, and reduced professionalconsultationinputcanlowertheoverallcost[5– 7]. It is important to pay attention to actions to reduce the wholemicrohydrocostbecauseitisalwaysthemainconcern for small communities especially in rural areas. In order to minimizetheoverallcost,microhydrosystemmustbeinthe optimal operation and component selection. Furthermore, themicrohydromustbereliable,robust,andmanageablewith minimumtechnicalknowledgebylocalcommunities.