Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan has formally inaugurated PLN Group's Waduk Muara Nusa Dua floating solar power plant (PLTS) in Nusa Dua, Bali.

Wholly utilizing new and renewable energy with a capacity of 100 kilowatt-peak (kWp), the generator will also ensure the reliability of the electricity supply for the upcoming Group of 20 Summit.

The inauguration of the Waduk Muara Nusa Dua floating PLTS was also attended by Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono and PLN president director Darmawan Prasodjo.

Luhut said the construction of the floating PLTS was a concrete manifestation of Indonesia’s energy transition by intensively building new and renewable energy-based power plants, in line with Indonesia's commitment to reduce carbon emissions toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.

"We will build a lot [of PLTS]. This is only intermittent, for the baseload we have geothermal, hydro power, as well as various other kinds. Indonesia has 437 gigawatts [GW] of new and renewable energy potential, and there is still a lot of room to continue to grow, " he explained.

PLN’s Darmawan said the Waduk Muara Nusa Dua floating PLTS was not merely a showcase for the G20 Summit, but also served to symbolize the end of energy dilemmas in the future.

“The transition from dirty to clean energy needs to be done immediately to create a better environment in the future and at lower cost. Our efforts to reduce greenhouse gasses are efforts that are not only due to international agreements and policies, but because we do really care [about the environment]," he said.

Darmawan noted that the PLTS, which consists of 228 solar cell panels, had been completed and successfully tested since early October through Smart Grid innovation, which is one of PLN's transformation programs that uses digital technology to monitor and manage the supply of electrical energy according to load requirements.

"The floating parts, the frame, and all the equipment is made domestically. In the future, there is still room for us to build our national capacity," he said.

Darmawan also emphasized PLN's commitment to the energy transition toward net-zero emissions in 2060 by prioritizing Indonesia’s abundant natural potential, as well as driving the national economy. By using local products in the power plant construction, he continued, Indonesia's economy could also be boosted.

"The energy transition requires more than US$700 billion or Rp 10,000 trillion. If this becomes a market share for foreign products, our economy will slow down, as the job creation will not be in Indonesia, but in other countries."

Through the PLN Indonesia Power subholding, the company completed the Waduk Muara Nusa Dua floating PLTS project in just one month and two weeks. The floating PLTS was built over an area of ​​0.35 hectares, 1 percent of the area of ​​the Muara Nusa Dua Reservoir.

This project was a government assignment that officially began on July 19. In September, a number of works were carried out, starting from the licensing process and construction, to the synchronization of the first stage. The Waduk Muara Nusa Dua floating PLTS received a certificate of operational worthiness (SLO) on Oct. 28.

"This PLTS project is also a manifestation of the company's commitment to the principles of environmental, social and governance [ESG] in creating sustainable economic development," Darmwan added.

Darmawan also expressed his appreciation to the stakeholders involved, from the coordinating ministry and related ministries to the governor of Bali, as well as other parties who have actively contributed to the development of the PLTS.

"PLN's job is to provide electricity. But in the future, with the energy transition, our main job is to take care of the environment, while electricity is our byproduct," he concluded.

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