Central Java Farmers Use Solar-Powered Pumps to Cut Production Costs
Three locations have so far received and installed solar-powered irrigation pumps (PATS): Tengengwetan Village in Siwalan, Pekalongan Regency, Brebes Regency, and Cilacap Regency.
Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi had the opportunity to observe the PATS implementation firsthand in Tengengwetan Village, Siwalan District, Pekalongan Regency.
Luthfi explained that solar-powered pump irrigation is considered highly effective. Firstly, it saves energy by replacing fossil-fuel diesel pumps with solar power. Secondly, there is no pollution. Thirdly, the water pump can operate 24 hours a day.
“These three pump points irrigate a total of around 50 hectares of agricultural land; the one in Pekalongan can irrigate nearly 20 hectares,” Luthfi stated on Monday (10/8/2026).
He made the remarks after symbolically handing over and inspecting the PATS assistance. The three PATS implementation sites will serve as models for all regencies and cities in Central Java, and if possible, become a national pilot project.
“We will develop this, we will socialise it, and then prepare the infrastructure. These solar-powered pumps are also already being used in Sayung, Demak, to tackle flooding,” Luthfi said.
Beyond the agricultural sector, Luthfi added, this pump model can be applied in other sectors as well. This is to strengthen Central Java’s transformation towards new and renewable energy and the development of a green economy.
A representative of the Tengengwetan Village farmers’ group (Gapoktan), Kirom, said the PATS assistance has reduced farmers’ expenditure on diesel. When using diesel pump engines, a day and night of operation consumed at least around 30 litres of diesel. With PATS, the diesel requirement for water pumps has fallen to 15 litres.
He further explained that around 30 rice farmers are utilising the PATS assistance. Water is drawn from a river near the village and channelled to nearly 20 hectares of rice fields.
“The diesel-fuelled pump is only used at night; during the day we use solar power. So it is more economical, and we can reduce production costs,” he said.
A similar view was expressed by Gilang, a representative of the Tani Makmur farmers’ group in Banjaranyar Village, Brebes Regency. The PATS has been very beneficial for farmers in his area because it saves fuel.
“Our irrigation relies on water from the south. During the dry season, seawater intrusion affects the irrigation channels. With these solar-powered pumps, we use boreholes, so the water is no longer saline and we can plant again. Our farmers can advance their planting season and manage the growing season ourselves,” he said.