Perplatsi: Solar power plant design must be needs-based and sustainable

The General Treasurer of the Indonesian Rooftop Solar Installers Association (Perplatsi), Nimas Puspito Pratiwi, has stated that the government’s design for solar power plant (PLTS) installations must be tailored to community needs and incorporate a sustainable system. Speaking during the Indonesia Solar Summit 2026 webinar in Jakarta on Thursday, Nimas said PLTS can have a significant impact on communities if designed based on need, not just capacity. “Needs are mapped from the outset, designs are made based on real conditions, installation quality is maintained, there are local operators who understand the system, there is an operation and maintenance mechanism, there is access to spare parts and technical support, and the system is monitored. And very importantly, the energy has productive utilisation,” Nimas said. She called for a paradigm shift in designing electrification programmes, moving from a mere infrastructure project to a long-term service ecosystem. This process should begin with needs assessment, engineering and design, quality installation, operator training, and monitoring, through to preventive maintenance that ultimately enables productive use. A structured design will create reliable electricity, allowing communities to use assets productively, create added value for products, and ultimately increase local incomes, as well as improve the quality of basic services such as schools, health facilities, and connectivity. “A very concrete example is that energy can drive pumps for clean water and irrigation, it can be used for milling or processing agricultural products. In the fisheries sector, energy can support the cooling and storage of catches. For MSMEs, energy can operate production machines and extend business hours, and also save energy,” Nimas said. Perplatsi has mapped five pillars that the government should focus on to ensure PLTS energy services and their benefits are sustained: needs-based design, quality assurance, local capacity, lifecycle or operational and maintenance, and productive use. She assessed that the success of an infrastructure project is not just when the system is switched on, but years later when the system is still running and the community is still reaping the benefits. Nimas also urged the government not only to bring electricity to villages but also to consider the benefits communities will receive through equitable and sustainable electrification. “To achieve that, it requires not just good technology, but also appropriate design, implementation quality, local capacity, long-term maintenance, and collaboration,” she said.