YOGYAKARTA - Ministry of Research and Technology and Universitas Gadjah Mada made Bantul regency as a pilot project in hybrid energy technology based on its potential of solar thermal and wind power. The area for new and renewable energy development is Pandansimo beach in Srandakan covering 37 Ha sandy area.
Ir. Santosa Yudo Warsono, MT, Deputy Assistant for Small and Medium Industries Technology to Minister of Research and Technology, said the first hybrid energy development in Indonesia has now entered its third year. Therefore, this year's program is more focused on the development of production techniques and component production capacity and improved capability of SMEs and economic empowerment of coastal communities.
Currently, the use of hybrid power plant is for coastal resorts lighting, operational training, workshop on renewable energy development and implementation model of regional innovation system. Although still being developed, hybrid power is tested for farming in sandy land that requires extra high water. "We use to elevate the water to the surface," Santosa said during a visit to the location n Srandakan on Friday (6/4).
Currently, some 35 wind turbine units of hybrid energy power stations have been installed with an average height of 18 meters, consisting of 26 wind turbines with a capacity of 1 kW, 2.5 kW, 10 kW, and 50 kW. As many as 175 units of solar cells are also added with capacity of 17.5 kWp.
Renewable energy researcher from Faculty of Engineering UGM, Dr. Ahmad Agus Setiawan, confirmed the hybrid power plant is very potential to be developed in Indonesia as an archipelagic nation. Therefore, it could be alternative energy for electricity supply. "Interconnection is not fully capable to provide electricity between islands, let alone our country has many small islands," the professor of physics engineering said.
Based on Agus’ research, wind speed in Indonesia is not as high in countries such as the Netherlands which has been using windmills energy. Wind speed at Pandasimo beach ranges between 3-5 meters per second. Therefore, it needs to be combined with a low speed generator and solar thermal energy. "The solution would be a lot of windmills," he added. According to Agus, the program is in line with the government's desire to support 1000 windmills program throughout Indonesia.
Head of Regional Development Planning Board of Bantul, Drs. Tri Saktiana, MS, expected the hybrid technology would easily be applied, maintained and used so as to improve the welfare of society. "The 13.5 Km-long beach of Bantul can be used optimally for the community. The community aspires for real goals, namely promoting business and agriculture through technology," he said.
Met separately, Dalijo (45), a farmer who owns land around the beach, claimed getting the benefits of the hybrid power plant. The plant can be utilized for watering the farmland and fish pond business. "Since there are windmills, we are able to cultivate farming on sandy land," he said.