DEN pushes for ocean energy to enter implementation phase

Mataram (ANTARA) - The National Energy Council (DEN) is pushing for ocean energy development plans to enter the implementation phase immediately, given the significant potential of currents, waves, and tides to generate clean energy.

DEN member Sripeni Inten Cahyani said ocean energy development has now reached the planning stage to support the national energy mix target and is beginning to be factored in for 2030.

“The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has research, and the National Research and Innovation Agency also has research. This is what we are trying to encourage investors to enter,” she said after conducting a National Energy Policy socialisation at the University of Mataram, Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara, on Thursday.

Sripeni said the government needs to promote ocean energy pilot projects without making economic viability the primary consideration at the start of development.

“Economic viability is a problem. But for piloting, I think the government must push forward and not prioritise economic viability first,” Sripeni said.

She cited the planned ocean energy development in the Larantuka Strait, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, which was cancelled due to economic viability constraints.

The project required a bridge to house the ocean energy generation equipment. The cost of building the bridge was far more expensive than the cost of the generation equipment itself, making the project economically unfeasible.