Bisnis.com, JAKARTA — President Director of State Electricity Company (Persero) or PLN Darmawan Prasodjo inspected the Cirata Floating Solar Power Plant (PLTS) which is planned for commercial operation at the end of October 2023. The project has an investment of IDR 1.7 trillion.

Darmawan said that currently his company is carrying out a number of trials to ensure that the electricity distributed from the PLTS with a capacity of 145 MWac or the equivalent of 192 MWp can be distributed properly.

"I want to ensure the readiness of the Cirata floating PLTS to be operational. Currently we are carrying out various trials and ensuring that electricity from PLTS can be distributed properly. "We are optimistic that by the end of October 2023, this PLTS can be inaugurated," said Darmawan as quoted in a press release, Saturday (9/9/2023).

Darmawan explained that the Cirata floating PLTS was the result of collaboration between the PLN Nusantara Power subholding and the energy company from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Masdar. Through collaboration, this project is able to absorb more than 1,400 local workers. By applying sophisticated technology, this PLTS also creates new competencies for PLN.

“Earlier I met several personnel, graduates of the best universities in this country. I asked a year ago whether they understood how to build and operate this floating PLTS? They know nothing about this. There are many challenges that must be resolved. "However, we managed to map these challenges," said Darmawan.

He said the floating PLTS was located above the Cirata Reservoir, West Bandung, West Java. Spread across an area of ​​200 hectares built in 13 blocks with more than 340,000 solar panels, this PLTS is capable of producing 245 million kWh of clean energy per year and is capable of electrifying the equivalent of more than 50,000 houses, and will reduce carbon emissions by more than 200,000 tons per year.

Meanwhile, with an investment value of IDR 1.7 trillion, this project is able to produce attractive investment returns, increase investor confidence and at the same time answer the challenge of clean energy.

"This is also proof that PLN is able to present an attractive investment cooperation scheme so that it has succeeded in encouraging investor interest in developing renewable energy projects in other regions," he said.

On the other hand, he ensured that PLN would continue to develop clean energy-based power plants. With clean energy potential reaching 360 GW, PLN is opening a space for investment cooperation for the development of clean energy in the country in realizing the 2060 Net Zero Emissions (NZE) target.

On this occasion, Darmawan also launched the use of an electric boat called Nusantara e-Boat. The electric boat is used as an operational vehicle for Cirata floating PLTS officers.

The floating PLTS, which is considered the largest in the Southeast Asia region, is supported by syndicated financing from three international banks, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), Societe Generale and Standard Chatered with a value of around US$140 million.

The plan is that the floating PLTS will supply around 245 million kWh of electricity every year. Meanwhile, the electricity tariff set from this solar plant is quite competitive at US$5.8 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh).

"This floating PLTS only uses around 25 percent of capacity, meaning we can still add up to 1 gigawatt," he said.

The Cirata Floating PLTS will be run by Pembangkitan Jawa Bali Masdar Solar Energi or PMSE, which is a joint venture formed by a consortium of PLN's subsidiary, PT PJB Investasi (PJBI) with a share share of 51 percent with a company from the United Arab Emirates, Masdar with a share share of 49 percent.

Previously, President Joko Widodo or Jokowi pushed for a sustainable and mutually beneficial financing scheme to accelerate the energy transition in the Southeast Asia or ASEAN region.

Jokowi conveyed this initiative in front of the leaders of Asean member countries and other delegates when opening the Asean Indo-Pacific Forum in Jakarta, Tuesday (5/9/2023).

"Sustainable and innovative financing, Asean needs US$29.4 trillion for the energy transition," said Jokowi.

This projection comes from research by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) for the period up to 2050. By then, countries in the Southeast Asia region are expected to have switched 100 percent to renewable electricity generation.

Jokowi hopes that each ASEAN country can initiate innovative financing schemes through sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships to carry out the transition program.

(SOURCE)