PLN Plans to Build Wind Power Plant Along Bali Toll Road

State electricity company PLN plans to build a wind power plant along the Bali Mandara Toll Road. The plan aligns with the development of solar power plants on other toll roads as part of efforts to increase the domestic renewable energy mix. PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo explained that the plan will utilise land on the left and right sides of the toll road. In addition to accelerating the energy transition, this will also serve as a tourist attraction for passing travellers. “We are also adding a wind power plant, but in a cylindrical shape, which not only produces energy from the wind but also adds to the beauty of the scenery,” he said during a Hearing with Commission XII of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta. The construction of the cylindrical wind turbines will be focused on the Bali Mandara Toll Road to highlight the aesthetics of the tourist area. He stated that the wind power plant on the toll road could demonstrate Indonesia’s commitment to national renewable energy development on the global stage. “Of course, this will be very visible; tourists landing on the island of Bali will clearly see that we have made the transition to green energy,” he explained. Besides Bali, PLN is also targeting land along 802 kilometres of toll roads owned by PT Jasa Marga for large-scale solar panel installation. The use of 400 to 500 hectares of land is projected to generate a power capacity of up to 0.5 Giga Watt peak. “For example, the Jasa Marga toll road with a length of 802 km, if both sides are 3 to 5 metres wide, then there is around 400 to 500 hectares, meaning this has 0.5 Giga Watt peak,” he added. The green energy project on the toll roads will also be combined with a Battery Energy Storage System. The company estimates the total battery capacity generated from this scheme could reach 1.5 Giga Watt hour to strengthen the national electricity system. “Of course, because this land is very cheaply provided by the state through cooperation between state-owned enterprises, and the main challenge for the PLTS and battery energy storage system programme so far has been land,” he said. The plan is also considered a competitive solution to lower the cost of electricity supply. Through this plan, the company hopes to shift from imported energy dependence to cheaper and more environmentally friendly domestic energy. “This can change imported energy into domestic energy, fossil energy into renewable energy, and expensive energy into cheaper energy,” he concluded.