Tuesday 15 January 2013

APPLICATION OF SOLAR ENERGY HANDICAPPED BY TRANSPORTATION COST



Geographic location was one of the determinant factors in success of solar energy application, so that solution of the case in east Indonesia was handicapped by distance, the cause of costly transportation. Indonesia is a vast archipelago, where transportation to distribute solar energy panels was still a problem. “Unlike India where most of the area is land, transportation can be done by using trucks” Maritje Hutapea, Director Bio-Energy and Director General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation [EBTKE] told Business News some time ego.

The solar energy panel or photoloyaltaic [PV] was known as electricity current, PV was highly dependent on photoloyaltaic effect to absorb solar energy; current flows between two opposing energized layers “Whether we deliver by sea or by air the cost was still high” Maritje was quoted as saying.

The result was that some candidate investors and PV producers from abroad like Germany of China were not willing to build PV infra-structure. The cost of infra structure building was extremely high, while delivery of panels from Jakarta to other regions especially Papua might drain the budget. “Investors surely refuse to lose in business when they build infra-structure while Return on investment takes long time “Maritje remarked.

EBIKE admitted they had not probed on the possibility of technology application of solar cells. Although price of silicon was on the downturn, even as low as 50 percent, application of PV technology was not always instantly successful. “Price of silicon is low, but still we import” Maritje said.

PT Pertamina was busily building PV modules but nit found the right calculation. To down press production cost old PV, participation of overseas consultants was still needed, but for short term solution transportation was still a big problem. Module PV50 watt from Germany, delivery cost from Frankfurt to Jakarta was around Rp 45 million, but transportation from Jakarta to Papua would cost twice as much. “Which investor is willing to spent that much money? This was the focus of Government’s attention, while the need for electricity in East Indonesia is extremely high” Marrithe remarked.

In a different location the Director of Geothermal, Directorate general of EBTKE Tisnaldi installed premiere drilling of resources wells in WKP Liki Pinangawan Muaralaboh. The drilling was the first geo thermal drilling exploration in Indonesia after the Law no 27/20023 on geo thermal heat was released. Investment by PT Supreme Energy reached Rp 7 trillion producing current of around 220 MW which was the biggest energy project in Sumatra.

“This was the first geo thermal well being drilled in Indonesia after release of the Law of Geo Thermal. This would be a milestone in the history of energy development in Indonesia.” Tisnaldi told Business News [24/9].

All parties must realize how important geo thermal energy was as environmentally friendly energy of the future, moreover reserves of oil, gas and coal in this country was running out. The initial probing of Exploration Well MI-A1 in Mining area [WKP] Liki Pinangawan Muaralaboh was at Ngarai Alam Pauh Duo, District of Pauh Duo in the Regency of South Solok West Sumatra. Drilling of ML-A1 was a chain of 4 – 6 drilling of exploration wells at WKP to prove the existence of geo thermal heat of sufficient magnitude to build geo thermal well of 220 MW watt. The time frame needed for drilling was a between 6 to 9 months.
Before starting drilling explorations were executed, PT Supreme Energy Muara had made preliminary survey and comprehensive pre analysis, followed by building of infra structures like roads etc and pinpointing location of well. If the drilling was successful as expected, if would be followed by feasibility study, engineering, design and tender for building production facilities and powerhouse and drilling of productive wells. The operation was expected to begin as per early 2014 and completed in 2016. The electricity generated by this geo thermal powerhouse would be pipelined to PT PLN [Persero] based on contract of 30 years. The PLTP Project of Muara Laboh was a national project an was included in the Development Acdeleration Plan. The construction of 10.000 powerhouse phase II was based on Presidential regulation no /2010 and Perpres no 48/2011.

In the execution of this project, PT Supreme Energy Muara Laboh was highly appreciative of support from the Regional Government whether of Provincial level of West Sumatra or regency level of South Solok, and the community of West Sumatra so the activities being exercised could run well. This could happen because PT Supreme Energy Muara Labohconstantly maintained intensive communication with the regional Government and the local community through illumination campaigns the regular way

Business News - September 28, 2012

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