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Wind turbines fail to generate power
Sat, 12/20/2008 12:11 PM | Bali
Seven wind turbines launched in Nusa Penida, an island southeast of Bali, during the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) in December 2007 have failed to deliver any of their promised power to local residents.
A solar plant was also opened during the conference, as a demonstration of the administrations commitment to renewable energy. The solar plant continues to perform efficiently, producing up to 30 kilowatts of electricity per hour. The wind farms, however, have stayed silent.
Head of Nusa Penida district Wayan Sumarta acknowledged that the seven wind plants have never been operational.
He said he regrets their failure, lamenting the fact that the plants cost billions of rupiah to construct and had not lived up the high hopes locals had for them as an alternative source of energy.
"It is truly regrettable that a major project like this was not been managed appropriately. Now, they are nothing more than monuments. We expect the government to pay serious attention to them," he said.
Each wind turbine (see picture) cost a reported Rp 3.5 billion ($US325,000) to build and had a planned production capacity 80 kilowatts.
Contacted by phone, spokesperson of the Bali branch of the state-owned electricity company PT PLN, Agung Mustika, denied that the plants have never worked.
"All of the plants operate normally. If their turbines do not move, they are storing the energy. It doesn't mean they are not functioning," he said.
PLN financed in part the construction of the plants and is responsible for their operation and maintenance.--JP/Ni Komang Erviani
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David K. — Sat, 12/20/2008 - 2:41pm
KPK or whatever Government agency wishes to take credit in the bringing to justice of the idiots that planned, accepted the planning, approved the funding, built, and maintained this project should seriously start building up the dossier against these people. There are individuals out there that profited from this fiasco. Utilizing technology that has not been proven enough, nor even right for the area.
The concept that we have to bend knee to the concerns of the western world when they have throughout history destroyed the planet and brought it to this point more so then any asian country (sans China) is ludicrous. I'm not saying tit for tat, that because they did it we can too. But Indonesia should not be bullied by the EU, USA or any other country forcing Indonesia to adopt expensive "alternative energy" programs when their countries are continually allowed to destroy the environment.
The country should stop using cronies and halfwits to conduct studies on alternative sources of energy that will benefit them (IE their wallets and wallets of their friends) and actually look at programs, technology, and systems that would benefit Indonesia, and the Indonesia to provide clean and cheap energy to their people.