Solar Energy in Talang Aro Hamlet

Residents of Talang Aro Hamlet, Aro Village, Muara Bulian District, Batanghari Regency, Muaro Jambi, Jambi, in recent years have been able to enjoy energy that comes from the sun.

 Deon Arinaldo , Manager of the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) Energy Transformation Program, said that the development of a national solar power center ( PLTS )  is also possible to last a long time because equipment with good maintenance can last 25-30 years . 

 In 2015 , when Talang Aro Hamlet was electrified by a solar power plant . _ The PLTS which is located across the river with a capacity of 20 KWP can now supply electricity for 72 families in the hamlet. .

 Deon Arinaldo , Manager of the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) Energy Transformation Program, said that the development of this country's solar power plant also allows it to last a long time because equipment with good maintenance can last 25-30 years . 

Early in the morning, Ruliyah woke up to prepare breakfast for her grandson. He went into the kitchen and turned on the electricity, soon the sound of a blender was heard to grind chilies and other spices. The smell of fried rice wafts through the kitchen. Ruliyah only needs about 20 minutes to serve fried rice, fried bananas and bakwan and a pot of coffee. The light from a 5 watt LED in the kitchen provides sufficient light. The electricity that Ruliyah enjoys comes from the sun.

This 59-year-old woman, a resident of Talang Aro Hamlet, Aro Village, Muara Bulian District, Batanghari Regency, Muaro Jambi, Jambi, has lived without electricity for more than 30 years.

Dusun Talang Aro, a small village located on the banks of the Batanghari River, Batanghari. This village can only be reached by crossing the river, the journey takes about an hour from Muarabulian City, the district capital. Talang Aro is inhabited by 89 families who live from gardening.

Since 1987, Ruliyah has lived without electricity in this hamlet. She and her late husband, who taught the Koran , could only rely on templok lamps to illuminate their house at night. When her husband started using generators in the 2000s, they had to pay a lot of money to buy diesel. Every week, they have to spend 15 liters of diesel just to get lighting from 18.00-21.00.

Everything changed in 2015, when Talang Aro was electrified by a solar power plant. The PLTS which is located across the river with a capacity of 20 KWP can now supply electricity for 72 families in the hamlet, including Ruliyah and her family.

He is happy because he is no longer dependent on expensive and wasteful generators. He also feels safer because he is no longer worried about being exposed to the dangers of fire or generator fumes. Now, with six 5 watt LED lights, one LED TV and a blender, he can cook and enjoy the light around the clock.

You can also watch TV even for a while. If the electricity is about to run out, there will be sounds, that's a sign. You have to turn off the TV , thank God now."

The presence of solar electricity really helps him and the local residents in various aspects of life. The use of clean and environmentally friendly energy also makes him feel calmer and more comfortable. He hopes that this program will continue and more and more people can enjoy the benefits of affordable electricity like today.

"We are comfortable with solar electricity, no need to pay tokens. It's expensive, if we can just increase the power if we want it. Plus, so that all houses can get it. We can make food, business if the electricity is increased," he said.

Nuraini, also feel the same thing. That day, this 63-year-old woman was pouring water in the kitchen. He lives with his son who has a mental disorder living with him.

Nuraini is included in the pre-prosperous family category. She makes ends meet from the donations of her other children. He took out a small Koran and said. “I can recite the Koran at night because I have solar electricity. If you pay, all the children pay. I live with them," he said.

He pressed the light switch, the cement-floored and wooden-walled house suddenly lit up. The evening call to prayer sounded faintly. Nuraini closed the two windows in the front and side rooms of the 4×6 meter house. During his life, he had only been able to feel electricity for eight years.

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Solar energy in Jambi

Agus Chaidar, Sunarto and Kamal Afrianto put on their safety hats and boots hanging in the PLTS equipment room with a capacity of 15 KWp. They clean the solar panels which are starting to get dusty. The dry season with a flat position of about 70 cm from the ground makes dust easy to stick.

“If you don't clean it often, it will affect heat absorption. It also affects the energy produced," he said.

After cleaning the panel, Sunarto sat under it. They looked at the solar panel fuse, worried that something had broken. "Usually if the heat is too hot, the fuse is broken."

During its eight years of operation, the Sungai Aro PLTS has been handled by three technicians. They took turns checking all the components. Routine inspection every day and per week.

In 2017, PLTS was damaged. One inverter failed due to a lightning strike and maintenance was minimal. They are forced to optimize use during the day, and limited at night. For two years they waited for repairs until starting in 2019 it was operating properly.

"I don't want it to happen again, it's broken. Repairs need funds and a long time,” said Sunarto.

Agus and his two friends are not from an electricity school. They receive one-time training from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (KESDM), the rest are self-training.

"Maintenance and operation, my two friends Sunarto and Kamal Afrianto, take care of maintenance. I take operation. We haven't had any training on installation," he said.

Surviving with solar energy electricity is not an easy matter. About 60 kilometers from Talang Aro Hamlet, Sialang Pungguk Village, Muara Bulian District, Batanghari, received PLTS assistance from the 2016 small-scale energy special allocation fund. Only a year residents can enjoy PLTS electricity. In 2018, the components broke down one by one, started the inverter and the battery didn't work.

Now they can't take advantage of PLTS. The building is not maintained and the cables are messy. The guardrail has become a place to dry clothes for residents.

Asnawi, Head of Sialang Pungguk Hamlet, said they only use PLTS electricity during the day or when the sun is shining.

David, a resident of Sialang Pungguk Village, is complaining that the PLTS is not functioning. They have difficulties like when children have difficulty learning and reciting the Koran. "If possible, we hope that this PLTS will be corrected. Here we are again using generators and templok lights. Yesterday there was one house that almost burned down because of this light," he said.

Jambi, is committed to increasing the renewable energy mix through RUED DI 2025 to 24%. In 2050, it will be 40% and stated in the Jambi Regional Regulation Number 13/2019 concerning the Jambi Regional Energy General Plan 2019-2050.

ESDM Office data for 2015, the energy mix is ​​still dominated by petroleum 89.77% followed by renewable energy 6.82%, coal 3.36% and gas 0.05%.

Renewable energy mix figures increase in ESDM data for 2022. The absorption of the energy mix is ​​renewable energy 15.22%, oil 63.77%, coal 13.65% and gas 7.45%.

Setyasmoko Pandu Hartadita, Head of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jambi ESDM Office sees that the commitment to use renewable energy in RUED Jambi, maybe in 2025 it will be 24% if the Kerinci hydropower plant operates.

Talking about the renewable energy potential of 8,847 megawatts from solar, followed by bioenergy, geothermal, water and wind. Pandu said that when he had recorded 23 centralized (communal) PLTS spread across seven districts, namely, Batanghari, Muaro Jambi, Sarolangun, Tebo, West Tanjab, East Tanjab and Bungo.

For the distribution of home-grown PLTS with a solar home system, there are 250 points. Currently, most of them, said Pandu, are in a damaged and abandoned condition.

"The challenges we face in optimizing the development of PLTS in Jambi, start from the limited ability and knowledge of managing resources, funding, and affordability," he said.

Affordability, he said, as in terms of components, it is still difficult to find in Jambi.

This solar energy potential has also been recorded by the Energy Transformation Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) reaching 7,000 Giga Watts throughout Indonesia. So, it is very possible that renewable energy sources deserve to be taken into account in answering the challenge of energy sovereignty.

Deon Arinaldo, Manager of the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) Energy Transformation Program, said that the development of this PLTS also made it possible to last a long time because equipment with good maintenance could last 25-30 years.

Regulatory issues are still a bit of a hindrance because the PLTS regulations have changed several times. "Not only that, there are lots of examples of people communally utilizing PLTS and improving their quality of life.

In terms of convenience, PLTS is also easy to install, efficient, and does not require too much capital.

Hadi Priyanto, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Indonesia, said that according to Greenpeace Indonesia's research, in Jabodetabek 85% of households are interested in switching to solar energy.

However, the regulations are uncertain, causing many people to be constrained in obtaining permits. Even though solar energy is of course the answer to Indonesia's commitment to reducing emissions."

The challenge of implementing the acceleration of the renewable energy mix in Jambi is still fluctuating, this condition also depends on regional and central policies.

Pandu said, in an effort to push RUED ESDM is exploring cooperation with parties including, IESR and the Association of Indonesian Engineers for the Jambi region to build an information center about solar energy and connect the community to get information about solar power plants in the city of Jambi.

The living room of Ruliyah's house was brightly lit. Restu, his son, has just finished his homework from school accompanied by his mother, Hidayah.

He spelled out the letters one by one, learned to read, like Restu. He said the development of PLTS still leaves a lot of work and houses to be repaired. So that billions of subsidies are not wasted to contribute emissions from dirty energy use.

Wall clock shows 21:30. Ruliyah immediately turned off the living room light and rushed to sleep waiting for the sun's energy the next day.