Indonesia officially launched a 192 megawatt peak (MWp) floating solar power plant on Thursday (Nov. 9), making it the largest in Southeast Asia. This initiative is in line with Indonesia's determination to shift to green and renewable energy sources. The floating solar power plant is recognized as the largest in the Southeast Asia (ASEAN) region and even the third largest in the world.
The largest floating solar power plant in ASEAN is located above the Cirata Reservoir, covering an area of 200 hectares. With an investment of US$145 million, the power plant is spread across three districts in West Java, namely Purwakarta, Cianjur, and West Bandung.
The Cirata floating solar power plant is expected to generate enough electricity to meet the needs of 50,000 households. The collaboration between Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) and Masdar, an Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy company, includes a three-year implementation period.
Located in a green and lush area surrounded by rice fields, the solar power plant, funded by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Societe Generale, and Standard Chartered, consists of 340,000 solar panels.
At the inauguration, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that the project has plans to expand to a 500 megawatt peak (MWp), while PLN indicated that it has the potential to generate up to 1,000 MWp in its final phase. In doing so, the Indonesian government has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving the goal of zero emissions by 2060.
As part of this effort, the Indonesian government is also working to achieve zero emissions in the power sector by 2050 as part of the $20 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) plan. Under this plan, Jakarta has committed to reducing carbon emissions from the power sector from 290 million tons to 250 million tons by 2030.
In addition, the President has encouraged the optimal use of the full potential of new renewable energy (EBT) available in Indonesia. By utilizing the technology available today, the President optimistically believes that Indonesia is able to overcome various challenges in the development of new renewable energy.
