It is time for Indonesia to develop solar energy: Expert

A scientist has urged the government to develop and utilize the solar power more, especially as tropical Indonesia has abundant sunshine, the Antara news agency reported on Monday.

"It does not take long processes to utilize the energy available in sunshine, unlike other sources of energy such as crude oil," said Masno Ginting of the National Institute of Sciences (LIPI).

"Sunshine will always be there as long as the sun keeps shining, unlike fossil fuels that will be depleted within several decades," he added.

Masno was speaking during a ceremony inducting him as the institute's expert researcher.

The sun emits an energy of about 1,300 watts per square meter and there is an average of 1,000 watts per square meter when it reaches earth surface, according to Masno.

"Developing solar power means we do not have to worry about oil price fluctuations and fuel subsidies," Masno said.

"All we need to do is to prepare for the production of solar cell from quartz, which we have in abundance here. We do not have to import quartz, unlike other countries."

Despite the potential, Masno admitted that the cost to convert solar power into electricity was still higher compared to hydro-, wind- or fuel-based power plants.

"The cost ranges from US$1 to $4.50 per watt of energy. But we have infinite supply of sunshine to compensate for this," he said. (*)