Indonesia is eagerly ushering in a new era of clean energy. The Floating solar Power Plant (PLTS) on Cirata Reservoir in Purwakarta Regency, West Java, serves as evidence of the government's commitment to addressing climate change through clean energy initiatives.
President Joko Widodo officially inaugurated the 192 Megawatt-peak capacity floating solar power plant on Thursday (9/11/2023) at the reservoir built in 1984. This environmentally friendly power plant is the largest in Southeast Asia and the third-largest globally.
"It is our dream to build large-scale renewable energy has finally come to fruition. We have successfully constructed one of the largest floating power plants in Southeast Asia and the third-largest in the world," said the President in his speech.
Collaboration with the UEA
Collaborating with the United Arab Emirates, PLTS Cirata is the result of a partnership between the state-owned electricity company, Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), and the UAE-based energy company, Masdar. The investment value reached $145 million USD or IDR 2.17 trillion, a significant amount for a power generation project of this scale.
Spanning 200 hectares, the PLTS consists of 14 modular islands with a total of 340,000 photovoltaic panels. It is capable of generating 245 million kilowatt-hours (kHw) per year, enough to power 50,000 households.
The energy produced by PLTS Cirata will directly integrate into the power system of Java, Madura, and Bali through the Cirata Main Substation. Its unique advantage lies in its connection to the Cirata Hydropower Plant, which has a capacity of 1,008 megawatts (MW).
Three Years of Construction
The President Director of PLN Dermawan Prasodjo stated that the three-year construction of the PLTS Cirata project involved 1,400 workers from three regencies: Purwakarta, Cianjur, and West Bandung. These workers underwent three months of training to adopt the technology used in the project.
Following the guidance of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Arifin Tasrif, PLN has been assigned to build a smart power plant, smart transmission, smart distribution, and smart control system, including the adoption of smart grid technology.
This system integrates solar panel technology with artificial intelligence and smart electrical networks. The goal is to generate, distribute, and manage solar energy in a more intelligent and efficient manner.
A New Era of Renewable Energy
The PLTS Cirata project contributes to the diversification of renewable energy sources, a global effort to reduce emissions in accelerating the transition to Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2060. Beyond residential use, PLTS Cirata will also serve as an alternative power source for various sector, including industry, responding to the high demand for green energy in the industrial sector.
President Jokowi expressed his hope for an increased focus on renewable energy projects in Indonesia, encompassing solar, hydropower, geothermal, and wind energy. He also emphasized the importance of consistent implementation for a sustainable future.
"We hope that more renewable energy (EBT) will ne built in our country, Indonesia, including solar power, hydropower, geothermal, and wind energy. I believe that if we continue to implement this consistently, it will have the most beneficial impacts," he said.
The Importance of Water
The Floating Solar Power Plant on Cirata Reservoir exemplifies an innovative project that comnines solar panel technology with water resources, showcasing the tremendous potential of water resources to provide sustainable solutions.
Next year, the Indonesian government will co-host the 10th World Water Forum, a crucial platform to address water resource management issues and collaboratively find solutions to future challenges.
All stakeholders are encouraged to contribute to the realization of water for collective well-being by participating in the 10th World Water Forum scheduled to take place in Bali from May 18 to 24, 2024. This cross-border forum is expected to foster collaborations and cooperations among nations.