GE, BPPT team up to develop Indonesia renewable energy

US diversified giant GE and Indonesia?s Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the joint development of renewable energy utilization, cleaner coal and energy efficiency projects to help meet Indonesia?s growing power and environmental needs, GE said on Thursday.

The two partners will work together to study the key issues that can support the commercial implementation of renewable energy projects such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and biogas, along with cleaner coal in Indonesia.

The first challenge for the new partnership will be to work on wind initiatives developed through Indonesia?s wind hybrid power generation (WHyPGen) project, followed by additional renewable energy activities. The project is supported by the United Nations Development Programme with a grant from the Global Environment Facility.

GE has conducted wind measurement studies in Indonesia, gathering data on wind power potential within certain areas of Indonesia to confirm the viability of developing up to 80 megawatts of wind projects. BPPT will set the project frameworks through dialogues with various governmental and financial agencies, as well as conduct feasibility studies and demo plants, while GE will help to develop and implement wind energy projects.

Wind and cleaner coal are key parts of the Indonesian government?s plans to increase the country?s power generation capacity by 29 gigawatts over the next 10 years. This additional power will support efforts to increase the country?s electrification rate. Today, approximately a third of Indonesians have no access to electricity. By adding 1.3 million households per year, the country hopes to supply electricity to 93 percent of the population by 2025. (alex)