Floating Solar Power Plants Potential in Indonesia

This article is a unique collaboration of various universities in Indonesia, specifically on the innovative concept of floating solar energy. Indonesia is leading the way in several renewable energy projects, including the largest floating solar energy project in ASEAN, which is a testament to the country's forward-thinking approach.
Developer: PT Pembangkoit Jawa-Bali Masdar Solar Energy (PMSE)
Scheme: PPA-25 years TOP (BOOT)
Capacity: 145 MWac
Investment: 129 million USD (Source: plnnusantarapower.co.id)
Findings: All projects, only one—the Cirata Dam floating solar power plant—is complete and operational. As the largest floating PLTS in Southeast Asia, valued at IDR 1.7 trillion, the Cirata project is a significant addition to Indonesia’s West Java region's sustainable energy infrastructure. Operated by PLN, the State Electricity Company (Persero), the Cirata PLTS is expected to reduce carbon emissions by over 200,000 tons per year and generate clean energy equivalent to 245 million kWh annually, powering more than 50,000 homes. The current electricity rate from these solar power plants is $5.8 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), considered reasonable. Many international companies have extensively utilized solar power plants across Indonesia. However, investors are increasingly favoring floating photovoltaic solar panels over land-based installations due to challenges with land acquisition, which leads to higher production costs and pressures on investors.