Currently, four thousand customers are recorded to have installed rooftop photovoltaic power stations. This figure is a one-thousand percent increase as compared to only 350 customers at the start of 2018.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) highlighted substantial growth in the use of rooftop photovoltaic power stations in Indonesia.

The Ministry's Director General of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Dadan Kusdiana pointed out that the number of rooftop photovoltaic power station users had grown to over one thousand percent in the past three years.

"Currently, four thousand customers are recorded to have installed rooftop photovoltaic power stations. This figure is a one-thousand percent increase as compared to only 350 customers at the start of 2018," Kusdiana emphasized here on Friday.

While the number of users has grown considerably, Kusdiana believes this achievement pales in comparison with the potential and benefits of rooftop photovoltaic power stations.

Indonesia’s photovoltaic electricity potential reaches 32,000 MegaWatts (MW), albeit the current usage is a mere 31 MW.

Related news: LEN industri to start offering rooftop photovoltaic in 2019

In terms of benefits, rooftop photovoltaic power stations can reduce carbon emissions from coal power plants and oil imports for diesel power plants.

The government has pushed for the progressive development of rooftop photovoltaic power stations.

In addition, the government has opened up business opportunities on account of the greater affordability in developing these power stations.

"The International Renewable Energy Agency or Irena recorded that solar power plant investment costs had declined by more than 80 percent in the last decade," Kusdiana pointed out.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources is also revising Minister of ESDM Regulation No. 49 of 2018 to expand the utilization of rooftop photovoltaic power stations to not just customers of state-owned electric company PLN but also for those of non-PLN enterprises.

Through this revision, the government will shorten the time for acquiring an installation permit since the request would be made using an application.

Furthermore, the government has offered additional incentives for citizens that installed rooftop photovoltaic power stations in their homes. Related news: Government unveils solar power independent study program





Translator: Sugiharto P, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Suharto
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