PLN says Oelpuah solar plant helps meet peak daytime electricity demand

Kupang (ANTARA) - PT PLN’s East Nusa Tenggara regional unit stated that the Oelpuah Solar Power Plant in Kupang Regency supplies electricity to Timor Island during peak daytime loads. General Manager of PLN UIW NTT, F Eko Sulistyono, said during a visit to the plant on Thursday that the 5 MWp facility consistently provides green electricity to residents during peak daytime hours. The plant has been operating since 2016. Eko explained that the Oelpuah solar plant is a large-scale new and renewable energy generator in Indonesia. He noted that in the future, electricity must not only be reliable but also environmentally friendly. To continue providing green energy services to the public, PLN has established synergy with Independent Power Producer PT Surya Energi Indotama to optimise the Oelpuah plant. This synergy, he said, is a concrete step to preserve the environment in NTT through carbon emission reduction. PLN affirmed its commitment to delivering reliable and clean electricity by strengthening the integration between generation and operational systems, which is key to maintaining supply stability in island regions and ensuring a clean energy-based supply for Timor Island. The Oelpuah solar plant uses an on-grid system, meaning it is directly connected to the PLN network without batteries, so it can only operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. The government is optimising the use of solar power plants to achieve energy self-sufficiency, in line with the second pillar of Astacita. Indonesia has a total new and renewable energy potential of 3,687 GW, with the majority, 3,294 GW, coming from solar energy.