Experts: Solar Panels Effectively Address National Electricity Supply Crisis

Recent electricity blackouts in parts of Java and Sumatra serve as a stark warning for Indonesia's national energy sector, indicating that the national electricity supply's safety margin has significantly diminished. This critical situation stems from a prolonged halt in power plant construction that began in 2019.

Triharyo Soesilo, an energy and infrastructure expert and an alumnus of ITB's Chemical Engineering program, explained that while electricity consumption has steadily increased over the past seven years due to economic growth, there has been no corresponding addition to generation capacity. This imbalance has led to the current precarious state of the national grid.

To rapidly bridge this supply gap, Soesilo advocates for the widespread adoption of solar panels, also known as Solar Power Plants (PLTS), as the most feasible solution. He highlighted that conventional options like coal-fired power plants (PLTU) are now prohibited, and the potential for geothermal energy in Java has been fully exploited. Building new gas-fired power plants faces significant hurdles due to high costs and lengthy construction times.

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To catch up on the supply deficit quickly, the utilization of solar panels or Solar Power Plants (PLTS) is considered the most realistic option right now.

Soesilo proposed accelerating large-scale solar installations, suggesting the utilization of open areas like lake surfaces as an efficient method. "Why don't we immediately install large-scale solar panels on lakes quickly? The work can be completed in less than a year," he stated, emphasizing the speed and practicality of this approach.

The article also touches upon Soesilo's distinguished career, noting his contributions to developing industrial plant designs in Indonesia and reducing foreign contractor dominance. His work, including developing computer software for plant design, has been instrumental in building numerous fertilizer plants across Indonesia and projects in Malaysia and Brunei.

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Why don't we immediately install large-scale solar panels on lakes quickly? The work can be completed in less than a year.