Solar Panels Installed at Soekarno-Hatta Airport
MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES
REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
PRESS RELEASE
NUMBER: 271.Pers/04/SJI/2020
Date: 25 September 2020
Solar Panels Installed at Soekarno-Hatta Airport
As many as 720 solar panels with a capacity of 241 kilo watt peak (kWp) will decorate the roof of the Airport Operation Control Center (AOCC) building of Soekarno Hatta Airport in Tangerang Regency, Banten Province. The solar power system will be fully operational on October 1, 2020.
Head of Bureau of Communication, Public Information Services, and Cooperation of Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR), Agung Pribadi, appreciated the steps taken by PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II and PT Bukit Asam Tbk (PTBA) in supporting clean energy program sourced from new, renewable energy and the efficiency of electricity consumption.
"The massive installation of rooftop solar panels in various public facilities is a concrete action in realizing the national movement of a million rooftop solar systems. What PT Angkasa Pura II & PTBA have done with the support of other State-Owned Enterprises is a very progressive collaboration in supporting sustainable clean energy. PTBA which was initially a coal company has now transformed into an energy provider, and actively supports the clean energy movement. This is a very positive transformation in the energy sector," said Agung in Jakarta on Friday (25/9).
The rooftop solar system, continued Agung, can also save monthly electricity bills of the Soetta airport. "It will also save electricity bills, while the electricity can also be imported and exported to PLN's grid," he said.
The government has continued to encourage the massive use of solar energy. Until the first semester of 2020, the installed capacity of rooftop solar system is about 11.5 MW from 2,346 PLN's customers. The government has targeted the share of renewable energy mix by 23% by 2025.
"To achieve the 23% target of renewables by 2025, we will take various steps in parallel. For example, we'll improve regulations on renewables prices to make investments more attractive," added Agung.
Meanwhile, President Director of PT Angkasa Pura II (Persero), Muhammad Awaluddin, said that the presence of a solar power system as the source of electrical energy is the entrance to the next use of renewables in the Green Airport concept applied at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
"Renewables deserve a place in the national airport sector, and PT Angkasa Pura II has started to apply the use of renewables at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, the largest airport in Indonesia. Hopefully, what we do at Soekarno-Hatta Airport can inspire other airports to also adopt the use of renewables through solar power systems," said Awaluddin.
The operation of a solar power system at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport is also in line with the efforts of Ministry of SOEs to accelerate the development and utilization of solar energy at SOEs. "We will discuss possible utilization of solar energy at other airports managed by PT Angkasa Pura II," added Awaluddin.
Although located in PT AP II's area, the solar panel system of the AOCC building was built by PTBA in collaboration with a subsidiary of PT LEN Industri, PT Surya Energi Indotama. Operation of the solar system will be carried out by PTBA.
President Director of PTBA, Arviyan Arifin, said that installation of the solar power system shows the commitment of SOEs to making a synergy in renewables development. "We hope cooperation and synergy like this can continue and be improved in the future," said Arviyan.
He added that PTBA is always ready to support the implementation of Green Airport and to develop solar power systems at other airports managed by Angkasa Pura II.
PTBA has continued to diversify its business beyond coal, in line with its vision to become a world-class, environmentally friendly energy company. (IY)
Head of Bureau of Communication, Public Information Services, and Cooperation
Agung Pribadi (08112213555)