PROGRES.ID – The Indonesian government is committed to reducing carbon emissions by achieving Net Zero Emission (NZE) by 2060. One tangible step towards this commitment is the Floating Solar Power Plant (PLTS) Cirata project in Purwakarta, West Java.
The Floating Solar Power Plant Cirata, with a capacity of up to 145 Megawatts AC (MWac), is claimed to be the largest in Southeast Asia. This achievement makes it the largest solar power plant in the ASEAN region, surpassing the Cadiz Solar Power Plant in the Philippines with a capacity of 132.5 Megawatts.
This project is unique because it is located on the Cirata Reservoir in Purwakarta, making it the first floating solar power plant in Indonesia. The project was developed by PT PJB Investasi, a subsidiary of PT PJB, in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates company, Masdar.
The Power Purchase Agreement for the Floating Solar Power Plant Cirata was signed on January 13, 2020, in Abu Dhabi. The contract involved the CEO of PT PLN, Zulkifli Zaini, CEO of Masdar, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, and CEO of PT PJB Investasi, Gunawan Yudhi Haryanto.
Construction of the Floating Solar Power Plant Cirata began in early 2021 with an investment value of IDR 1.8 trillion. The project occupies an area of 240 hectares on the Cirata Reservoir, which has a total area of approximately 6,200 hectares.
In addition to positively impacting the workforce by employing more than 1,400 local workers, the Floating Solar Power Plant Cirata also generates more affordable electricity rates, approximately IDR 17,0814 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) compared to other large-scale solar power plants.
Although initially planned to be operational by the end of 2022, the project faced some challenges, so it will now be tested at the end of October 2023 and inaugurated by President Joko Widodo.
The construction of the Floating Solar Power Plant Cirata aligns with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing Regulation No. 6 of 2020, which allows the use of reservoir space for various activities, including floating solar power plants. This is a government initiative to support the development of large-scale solar power plants in Indonesia.
Deputy I Head of Presidential Staff, Febry Calvin Tetelepta, explained that the Floating Solar Power Plant Cirata project is a concrete effort by the Indonesian government to achieve the 23% renewable energy target by 2025 and move towards NZE by 2060. This commitment is also outlined in Presidential Regulation No. 112 of 2022 regarding the Acceleration of Renewable Energy Development for Electricity Supply.
This project aligns with PLN‘s Green Transformation Program, which aims to develop large-scale renewable energy sources. According to the President Director of PLN, Darmawan Prasodjo, the Floating Solar Power Plant Cirata is a significant step in the development of clean energy that can support national economic growth.
With the Floating Solar Power Plant Cirata, it is estimated that carbon emissions can be reduced by over 200,000 tons per year, transforming Indonesia into a more sustainable energy-producing country.
