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PLN aims to swap out 200 old diesel power plants with solar by 2022
PLN mega projects director Ikhsan Asaad said on Monday that building the stations, whose combined capacity was 225 megawatts (MW), would cost an estimated Rp 100 trillion ($6.83 billion) over the next two years.
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Employees of state electricity firm PLN check
electricity meters at the Taman Palem Lestari housing complex in Cengkareng, West Jakarta. (JP/Donny Fernando)
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tate-owned electricity giant PLN plans to replace 200 old diesel-fired power plants (PLTD) with solar power stations (PLTS) to lower electricity production costs and bump up clean energy usage.
PLN mega projects director Ikhsan Asaad said on Monday that building the stations, whose combined capacity was 225 megawatts (MW), would cost an estimated Rp 100 trillion ($6.83 billion) over the next two years.
“That is huge money,” he told reporters at an online press conference.
He added that the stations, which will power remote towns and villages, would be equipped with battery packs. This means residents can enjoy 24-hour electricity from the sun but capital costs would be much higher.
PLN planned to conduct project biddings in December and have the 200 stations operational by 2022, he said.
Read also: Government studies plant to convert old power plants into renewables
Scrapping diesel plants is part of PLN’s de-dieselization program that aims to boost clean energy usage and lower production costs, whereby diesel-generated electricity is among the most expensive electricity per kilowatt hour, mainly due to fuel-related costs.
