Govt Continues to Promote Energy Transition
MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES
REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
PRESS RELEASE
NUMBER: 335.Pers/04/SJI/2020
Date: 4 November 2020
Govt Continues to Promote Energy Transition
The Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic that hit various countries in the world, including Indonesia, has exerted multiple effects on social and economic aspects, including the electricity subsector. This statement was made by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR) Arifin Tasrif when virtually opening a digital seminar on the 75th Anniversary of National Electricity Day on Wednesday (4/11).
Arifin said that the difficult situation amid the Covid-19 pandemic had to be used as a perfect time to promote energy transition in order to maintain energy security.
"The difficult situation we are currently in can be used as momentum to accelerate the energy transition by promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency in order to maintain energy security and realize long-term self-reliance of energy," said Arifin.
On this occasion, Arifin also explained the various policies the government had made to transition energy.
"The government's policy to transition energy in the future is, first, allowing flexibility of renewables power plant development in PLN's 2019-2028 RUPTL (Electricity Supply Business Plan); thus, efforts to meet renewables mix target and add renewables power plant can be made beyond the details of the RUPTL according to the needs of the local electricity system," said Arifin.
The next policy is smart grid development. Arifin said that according to the 2019-2038 RUKN (National Electricity General Plan), smart grids have been installed in several regions in Java-Bali in 2020 and will gradually be applied to systems outside Java-Bali.
"The use of a smart grid enables an efficient management system of electricity, ensures high reliability of electricity supply, utilizes renewable energy sources, and enables customer participation in electricity supply," he added.
Arifin also explained that the government was currently revising the grid code, which was expected to be completed shortly. There is also the development of distributed generation, micro-grid, and distributed storage, in which PLN is conducting a study on battery installation in Bali with a capacity of 50 MW/200MWh.
"If this study is feasible, the battery will be an alternative to mitigate short-term power shortages, and can be used as a backup for intermittent renewables generators. In addition, 'Talis' (electric tubes) will continue to be developed to power remote rural areas," added Arifin.
Another policy is the development of Rooftop PLTS (Solar PV System). PLN customers can install Rooftop PLTS and generate their own electricity, and even export the electricity produced to PLN. Until the first semester of 2020, a total of 11.5 MWp had been generated by Rooftop PLTS installed by 2,346 customers.
The government is drafting a presidential regulation on renewables which regulates the purchase of renewables electricity by PLN. Additionally, the government has requested the use of clean energy in tourist attractions. The government expects that tourist attraction will not use coal-fired or oil-fueled power plants and replace them gradually with gas or renewables-based generators.
Arifin also invited the MKI (Indonesian Electrical Power Society) to prepare a road map and formulate a national energy policy.
"In the energy transition program, the government would like to invite MKI and all stakeholders to find the best solution in preparing a road map and formulating a national energy policy," he said. (IY)
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