TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Yogyakarta Governor the Sultan Hamengkubuwono X has provided 270 hectares of land in Rongkop, Mount Kidul as a leading center of solar power plants in Indonesia.
"We support clean, renewable and ecofriendly energy sources, therefore we have prepared the 270 hectares of land to be used for that purpose," he said after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hilmi Panigoro, president director of PT Medco Inti Dinamika; The Agency for Technology Assessment and Application (BPPT) chief Unggul Priyanto; and President Director of PT Len Industri (Persero) Abraham Mose in Nusa Dua, Bali on Thursday, February 12.
For a long time, he said, Yogyakarta has a development center for renewable energy in Parang Racuk Beach, Baron, Mount Kidul, which has been used as the leading center for hybrid renewable power plant in Indonesia, such as solar and wind energy.
Hilmi Panigoro said that the current price of solar panels is relatively cheap, at just US$0.3 per watt. In the 1980s, solar panels could cost up to US$70 per watt.
"So, even though oil prices are down, solar energy can remain competitive. That's why regonal governments become an important component, and we would like to encourage the sector more," he said.
He said that producing one megawatt of solar power would require a hectare of land. Medco and the BPPT will conduct a feasibility study and build solar power generators in the area provided.
BPPT chief Unggul Priyanto said that to support the development of solar power industry, Indonesia needs the PLN's commitment to purchase solar cells from the domestic industry.
ANTARA
