Sharp Corporation plans to build solar power plant

Sharp Corporation of Japan plans to spend up to US$300 million to build a large scale solar power plant with a capacity of 100 megawatt in Indonesia, Kompas reported on Monday.

A memorandum of understanding for the construction of the power plant was signed in Jakarta last week between Sharp Corporation?s Director for Solar Energy Development Motohiko Hayashi and Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry?s Director for Renewable Energy, Laksamana Azhari.

Under the MoU, the Japanese company agreed to conduct a feasibility study for six months.

As part of the feasibility study, the Japanese company will build a solar power plant with a capacity of between 1 and 2 MW, Director General for Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Kardaya Warnika told reporters after the signing of the MoU.

If the project shows positive results, the company may continue with the development of a solar power plant with a capacity of 100 MW, he said.

Wardaya said that investment for solar energy power plant would require between US$2.5 million and $3 million for every MW, and that a plant with capacity of 1 MW, will occupy a location of about 1 hectare. (*)