|
The Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) has developed a cheaper method for
creating cells for solar-powered generators in its bid to provide electricity to
remote parts of the country.
The institute said its research aimed to help tap the country's potential
800-megawatt peak (MWp) in solar energy -- far from the current 10 MWp in
circulation -- to light around 18 million homes in 15,000 villages still without
electricity.
Researcher Ika Kartika Ismet said in her professorship speech Tuesday that the
cheaper method would help revive national efforts to build solar-powered
generators that were shelved due to financial constraints after the 1998
regional economic crisis.
"The government should consider subsidizing the solar-home system, perhaps from
the kerosene subsidy, because that's the encouragement given in many developed
countries. Such generators will definitely help the economy in villages," she
said.
Only a handful of domestic solar-powered generator vendors currently import
solar modules into Indonesia, and only one assembler of imported solar cells
that produces generators with a peak of just 250 kilowatts per year.
In 1997, former president Soeharto kicked off a program to build enough
solar-powered generators for a million homes. The suspended program has been
reestablished in the government's village electricity blueprint, but remains on
the back burner.
Renewable energy sources have been overlooked in favor of non-renewable sources
such as oil and coal because the technologies and processes associated with the
former are relatively expensive to develop.
The unappealing nature of renewables has traditionally been worsened by the
steep investment required to make such sources profitable.
Due to the absence of large-scale business ventures in remote areas, such
investments are thought to be financially worthless.
"But the situation has changed. The price of solar cells has dropped and the
trend will continue with the discovery of new and cheaper technologies.
"As demand continues to surge, the use of (renewable) energy will rise and be
used in parallel with conventional sources of power," the 61-year-old researcher
said.
After extensive research and modifications to the materials used in solar-cell
creation, Ika has developed a method of fabricating cells for US$2.24 less than
previous methods.
"From what I found, creating solar cells using multi-crystal substances makes
the process more economical. So I feel that research on this needs a boost
toward commercialization as it will contribute to the development of solar
technology in Indonesia," she said.
The quantity of cells used in a single solar module depends on the intended
scale and purpose of the energy output, such as to light a house or run a water
pump.
Ika said the government should start prioritizing renewable energy sources and
look into directly linking research and new discoveries with the energy sector
to ensure that results are implemented without delay by the existing industry
players.
The country's dependency on non-renewables amid the ballooning domestic demand
for energy took its toll in 2005 when the government twice hiked oil prices,
leading to higher inflation and a growth in the number of impoverished
Indonesians.
|