The Cirata floating photovoltaic power plant project in Indonesia, built by Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina), was recently connected to the grid and running at full capacity. This project is the first floating photovoltaic project in Indonesia and the largest in Southeast Asia, as well as being the deepest floating solar power plant under construction in the world. It is expected to play a leading role in clean energy development in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
The Cirata floating photovoltaic power plant project in Indonesia is connected to the grid at full capacity. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Situated near the equator, Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic country with abundant solar resources, providing inherent advantages in floating photovoltaic development. The Cirata floating solar power plant has an installed capacity of 192 megawatts and is a key strategic project in Indonesia. The photovoltaic field is located in the Cirata Reservoir in West Java, approximately 130 kilometers from the capital Jakarta.
The project covers an area of about 250 hectares and features 13 photovoltaic arrays arranged on the water surface, with a maximum water depth exceeding 100 meters. The PowerChina project construction team, based on the precise assessment of the stress of the anchoring system, innovated the anchoring system design and successfully completed its construction. They also overcame a series of construction challenges posed by the region's annual half-year-long rainy season, ensuring the successful implementation of the project.
As the first large-scale centralized photovoltaic project in Indonesia, the project has used local suppliers, subcontractors, and labor to the greatest extent. This not only promotes the development of the local photovoltaic industry and provides employment opportunities but also serves as a valuable experience and demonstration for future photovoltaic project construction.
Upon completion, the project is expected to generate an annual output of 300,000 megawatt-hours, saving 117,000 tons of coal per year for Indonesia. It will provide sufficient electricity for 50,000 households, significantly alleviating the power supply tension around West Java Island. In addition, the project will also help support the Indonesian government in achieving its renewable energy proportion targets as quickly as possible.
(Executive editor: Xie Yunxiao)
