PLN CEO says Indonesia is running the world's largest solar power project
The initial phase of 5.3 GWp is already the largest ongoing project in the world.
President Director of PT PLN (Persero) Darmawan Prasodjo has said Indonesia is currently running the world’s largest solar power plant (PLTS) project.
“The largest ongoing solar power project in the world at the moment is in the United Arab Emirates at 5.2 gigawatt-peak (GWp). So, the initial phase of 5.3 GWp is already the largest ongoing project in the world,” Darmawan said after the Launching and Groundbreaking of the 100 GWp PLTS Programme in Gilimanuk, Bali, on Tuesday.
At the event, the government announced 14 solar power plant projects with a combined capacity of 5.3 GWp.
The 14 projects have an investment value of approximately US$7.7 billion, or around Rp135 trillion, with potential state budget savings of Rp4.6 trillion per year.
“On Java alone there will be an addition of around 30 GWp of solar power from everything we are combining, plus 100 GWh of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS),” Darmawan said.
According to Darmawan, the BESS project is equivalent to 4-5 GW of load follower capacity, meaning it could replace gas and steam power plants (PLTGU).
Load followers, or dynamic buffers, serve to compensate for the intermittent nature of solar power supply.
“And here the cost saving is around 100 LNG cargoes,” Darmawan said.
He said he wants PLN to be the epicentre in carrying out President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to realise the Astacita goals, in this case energy independence amid increasingly complex geopolitics.
Darmawan stressed that President Prabowo wants Indonesia to reduce imports of fuel oil, one way being by replacing diesel-fired power plants that use diesel fuel with solar power plants.
“PLN is the epicentre in carrying out the President’s directive. For that, friends, are you ready to carry out the directive of the President of the Republic of Indonesia?” Darmawan said, greeted with a chorus of “Ready!” from PLN employees.
The government announced 14 solar power plant projects with a combined capacity of 5.3 GWp.
The 14 projects are divided into several categories, namely six projects ready for tender, including the Jatiluhur Floating Solar Plant with a capacity of 1,688 MWp, located at Jatiluhur Reservoir, Purwakarta, West Java.
Next, the Cirata Floating Solar Plant with a capacity of 1,250 MWp (Cirata Reservoir, Purwakarta, West Java); the Jatigede Floating Solar Plant with a capacity of 636 MWp (Jatigede Reservoir, Sumedang, West Java); the Madura Cluster Solar Plant plus BESS with a capacity of 605 MWp (Sumenep, East Java) to support the Fat Burning Madura programme, or the elimination of fuel oil in Madura.
Furthermore, the Bali Solar Plant with a capacity of 300 MWp (Gilimanuk, Jembrana, Bali) to eliminate fuel oil use in Bali; and the Purwakarta Land Bank Solar Plant with a capacity of 69 MWp (Purwakarta, West Java).
Thus, the total capacity of solar projects ready for tender is 4,548.92 MWp.
Next, there are three solar projects in the groundbreaking stage, comprising the Banyuwangi Solar Plant with a capacity of 130.2 MWp; the Pasuruan Solar Plant with a capacity of 132 MWp; and the Gajah Mungkur Floating Solar Plant with a capacity of 134.2 MWp.
There are also three projects in the construction stage, namely the Karangkates Floating Solar Plant at 133 MWp (construction 56.54 percent complete); the Saguling Floating Solar Plant with a capacity of 92 MWp (construction 44.4 percent complete); and the Tembesi Solar Plant with a capacity of 46 MWp (construction 65 percent complete).
The two remaining solar plants entering the inauguration stage are the Sembur Island Solar Plant in the Riau Islands, with a capacity of 0.92 MWp, and the Rengit Island Solar Plant in Bangka Belitung, with a capacity of 0.078 MWp.