GEET Pulau Rengit Officially Operational, Boosting Economic Activity Based on Green Energy
PT PLN (Persero) has inaugurated the Green Energy Ecosystem Technopark (GEET) on Pulau Rengit in Belitung Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands. The green energy system has increased electricity supply for the community from around 12 hours to 24 hours per day, while opening up opportunities for productive economic activity in the island region.
Before GEET Pulau Rengit was developed, the community’s electricity needs were supplied by a diesel power plant that operated for only around 12 hours per day. Now, through the implementation of an integrated green energy system, the residents of Pulau Rengit can enjoy 24-hour electricity support.
Pulau Rengit is inhabited by around 150 people, or 45 households, the majority of whom work as fishermen. The improved electricity reliability not only meets daily needs but also opens up opportunities for productive activities, including cold storage for catches and agrovoltaic concepts for agricultural activities.
The inauguration was attended by Bangka Belitung Islands Governor Hidayat Arsani, National Energy Council Member Sripeni Inten Cahyani, Director of New Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Senda Hurmuzan Kanam, PLN Director of Technology, Engineering and Sustainability Edwin Nugraha Putra, PLN Bangka Belitung Regional Main Unit, PLN Research and Development Centre, BRIN, Universitas Bangka Belitung, the Belitung Regency Government, Forkopimda and other stakeholders.
GEET Pulau Rengit was developed as a technopark as well as a learning space to test the application of green energy systems in island regions.
PLN Director of Technology, Engineering and Sustainability Edwin Nugraha Putra said the Pulau Rengit Technopark is the first technopark officially operated by PLN. By utilising solar energy, battery energy storage systems, wind turbines and hydrogen fuel cells, PLN hopes to improve the efficiency of electricity supply while reducing dependence on diesel power plants. The system will subsequently be evaluated to identify opportunities for application and replication in other regions.
From a service perspective, PLN Bangka Belitung Regional Main Unit General Manager Ira Savitri said PLN continues to strengthen infrastructure and the reliability of the electricity system. She described GEET Pulau Rengit as an important momentum in delivering 24-hour electricity service, up from the previous 12 hours, while strengthening electricity services in island regions.
PLN Research and Development Centre General Manager Mochamad Soleh added that Pulau Rengit will continue to serve as a research and learning space. He said Pulau Rengit is a small portrait of a larger model, and if it proves to operate reliably for 24 hours, the experience could become a blueprint for developing green energy systems on other remote islands. Going forward, the development of the Research and Development Centre will also require collaboration with various strategic partners, both local government and universities such as Universitas Bangka Belitung, to jointly conduct research and develop technology suited to community needs.