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strong>July 5, p4

Some good news for renewable energy supporters came from President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo when he announced his commitment to allocate Rp 1 trillion (US$75 million) this year to build various renewable energy plants.

However, people may be skeptical about whether this initiative will be utilized productively or prove to be mere rhetoric, as usual. Let'€™s take one form of renewable energy as an example, solar power plants (SPP), with the sun as their energy source, which is free and available all the time. (By Supriadi Legino, Jakarta)

Your comments:

What makes Germany successful is that they allow third parties to sell back power into the power grid. Solar energy will reduce dependency on expensive energy imports and mining and will contribute to the economy in the long run.

In 5-10 years time, with the advancement of battery cells and charging technologies, electric cars will become a viable option all over the world.

There are already battery cells for sale for cars that last for five years instead of just one year. PV technology had also advanced and become cheaper and more efficient.

Gasahol and biodiesels are also a great intermediate alternative although the technologies vary. But since our country is vast in both land and population, we should look at technologies that utilize natural oils and alcohols more actively.

In short, what accounts for the lack of interest? I don'€™t think its ignorance. It'€™s self interest.

Energy companies are blocking the development of alternative technologies.

But watch out people, the energy paradigm will shift in the next decade, and our world will change.

Cape