Masdar, a renewable energy company based in the UAE, has signed two agreements with Indonesia’s state electricity company PT PLN (Persero). These agreements are focused on developing floating solar power plants in Indonesia.
The first agreement is for a new project at the Jatigede Dam in West Java. Masdar had offered the lowest price in the Hijaunesia 2023 bid, which led to this agreement. Work on the Jatigede floating solar plant is planned to begin in 2024 and be finished by 2027.
The second agreement is about a possible expansion of the Cirata Floating Photovoltaic Power Plant. The first phase of this plant, with a capacity of 145 megawatts alternating current (MWac), started operating in November 2023.
These agreements were signed in the UAE during the visit of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Masdar was represented by its CEO, and PLN by its president director.
The Cirata plant currently supplies enough electricity for about 50,000 homes. It is estimated to reduce carbon emissions by 214,000 tonnes each year. Masdar and PLN are considering increasing the size of the Cirata plant. They began studying this in 2023 after new regulations allowed more surface area of water to be used for floating solar projects.
Indonesia has more than 600 lakes and reservoirs across over 17,000 islands. This makes it possible to develop more floating solar systems across the country.
Masdar has opened an office in Jakarta to support its work in the region. It also entered the geothermal energy market in Indonesia in 2023 through a strategic investment.
Besides these large projects, the green energy house has worked on smaller and lesser-known renewable energy initiatives in the Middle East. These include small solar installations in rural areas, off-grid battery-backed systems for desert outposts, and solar-powered street lighting trials in UAE municipalities.
