TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan HB X provided a 270-hectare land in Gunung Kidul to be used as a center for solar power plant in Indonesia.
“We support clean and environmentally friendly renewable energy. Therefore, We’re preparing a 270-hectare land to be developed,” Sri Sultan HB X said after signing a memorandum of understanding with PT Medco Inti Dinamika president director Hilmi Panigoro, Technology Assessment and Application Agency (BPPT) head Unggul Priyanto, PT Len Industri president director Abraham Mose in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Friday, February 12, 2016.
Sri Sultan HB X revealed that Yogyakarta had already had a center for the renewable energy development in Gunung Kidul that serves as a center for hybrid renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power.
Medco president director Hilmi Panigoro said that the solar panel price was getting cheaper from US$70 per watt in 1980s to US$30 cents per watt today.
“So, even though oil prices are currently low, solar energy remains competitive. Therefore, supports from local administration are important, and we will develop these energy sources even further,” Hilmi said.
Hilmi explained that solar power plant would need an extensive size of land. In response to a question about the capacity of the power plant, Hilmi said that his company would discuss it with the BPPT.
BPPT head Unggul Priyanto said that China had developed a solar panel industry, causing the price to be cheaper than those produced by other countries. Unggul suggested that Indonesia should start to produce solar panel since Indonesia has abundant silica sand. However, Unggul revealed that the solar panel development would need supports from the government.
“To build the solar panel industry in Indonesia, PLN must be committed to purchase locally-produced solar panels,” Unggul said.
ANTARA