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Sustainable development in Indonesia: A renewable energy perspective
Renewable Eneryy Vol. 3, No. 2/3, pp. 173-174, 1993 Printed in Great Britain.
0960-1481/93 $6.00+.00 Pergamon Press Ltd
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INDONESIA: A RENEWABLE ENERGY PERSPECTIVE RAHMAT ROZALI,* AMAN MOSTAVAN* a n d SPENCER ALBRIGHTt *Department of Physics Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology, Ganesa 10, Bandung, 40133, Indonesia and tTexas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129, U.S.A. Abstract--The concept "sustainable development" has become popular in recent years. Different from the previous development concepts, this concept has begun to be discussed along with a greater emphasis on ecological concerns. In Indonesia, fossil fuel plays a big role in increasing the economic growth. But the problem is the reserve of this fuel supply is very limited, and its use has environmental impact. Seeing these facts, the role of renewable energy in Indonesia becomes important. Renewable energy sources such as geothermal, hydro-power, solar energy, biomass and tidal, which have not been optimally used, are expected to assist in the development of Indonesia in the future. This paper describes sustainable development with a perspective on renewable energy in Indonesia. Aspects which will be emphasized are geography, geology, energydemand, and renewableenergy resources. The following is a discussion of these issues.
INTRODUCTION
ENERGY DEMAND
In the beginning, development was only identified with economic growth. Its quantitative measurement was GNP or GDP. This development concept has been refined and finally a new concept has emerged called "sustainable development". This concept was begun to be discussed along with development's environmental impact. The phenomenon of greenhouse effect, acid rain, and pollution are the global issues which are widely discussed today. These are hot topics because of the rapid increased use of fossil fuel. The available renewable energy resources in Indonesia include geothermal, hydro-power, solar energy, biomass, tidal, etc. Each of these resources offer great potential, but as yet they are not being used optimally. Some effort on increasing the renewable energy sources will be discussed later.
From 1980 until 1990, Indonesian energy consumption showed an average increase of 10%. Compared to the world's average (1.8%), the Indonesian consumption rate is considerably higher. Most of the demand (65.5%) is satisfied by oil. At this time Indonesia is proceeding with an economic restructuring towards industry. With 180 million people and its rapid economic growth each year (over 6%), it is estimated that energy needs will be increased. For instance, regarding the electricity energy needs for industry and housing in the city regions: for the 6th national five-year development plan (1993-1998), an additional capacity of 13,432 MW (or 141%) compared to today's capacity (9,515 MW) is required. In rural areas at the end of 1991, the villages with electricity were only 22,288 or 36% of the total number of villages in Indonesia. In addition most lndonesians live in the villages.
GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY Indonesia is a geographically complex archipelago consisting of approximately 17,500 islands spread out over a distance of about 3,200 miles along the equator. It is the fourth most populous nation in the world, with over 180 million people. Geologically, Indonesia is richly endowed with a variety of mineral and energy resources. Non-renewable energy resources include oil, natural gas and coal. Renewable energy resources are solar, geothermal, hydro-power, wind, tidal, biomass, etc.
RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES
Geothermal and hydro-power Geothermal and hydro-power have great potential in Indonesia. Geothermal resources could generate electricity up to 16,000 MW. The geothermal sources currently used amount to about 142 MW (less than
1%). Indonesia also has hydro-power potential, equivalent to 75,000 MW. Indonesia has many rivers and 173
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174
half of them are capable of generating electricity over 100 MW. Until now only 2,889 MW or 3.8% of the potential is being used. Solar energy
Since Indonesia lies in a tropical climate, it has certain advantages in receiving solar radiation. For instance, it receives on average daily radiation of 6 h. The solar radiation energy application such as photovoltaic system, is very potential for rural electrification, water pumping, medical care, etc. Other resources
Other renewable energy resources such as wind, biomass, tidal, etc also have potential. As of today they are still being researched.
DISCUSSION Since the country has a great number of people and it is experiencing rapid economic growth, the role of energy has become an important factor. For domestic needs, the energy is used primarily for industry, transportation and household needs. In the rural sector, where energy demand has not been sufficiently fulfilled, especially electric power, it is still a problem. The low financial resources of the rural community to pay for electricity, distribution systems for electricity, and the very remote and widely dispersed location of the villages are the major issues that need to be given special attention. If electrified, it is expected that economic activity will increase and this will obviously change the prosperity of that community. So far the role of renewable energy in Indonesia has not yet reached its optimum because of various handicaps. For instance, the application of the geothermal and hydro-power require a considerably high initial investment for the power station construction and also for the distribution network. In addition the hydro-power and geothermal energy sources are only available in certain locations.
Regarding the PV electrification for rural areas, the low financial resources of the community has become the dominant factor. However PV electrification has great potential, especially in rural communities which are remote and widely dispersed. To exceed the need for energy in the future, a few steps should be promoted : - - T h e role of renewable energy systems must be heightened, so that over time, they can substitute for fossil fuel as much as possible. - - A l l energy, both renewable and non-renewable, should be used more efficiently. --Because of the financial situation in the rural community, a bigger role of the private sector and government is needed for implementing the application of PV electrification in rural areas. --Universities must provide leadership in the development and adoption of technology for renewable energy systems. --Regional and international interaction must be increased. Information exchange, training programmes, low interest grants, and production facilities are necessary in application of the renewable energy systems.
CONCLUSION Along with increased economic activity in Indonesia, the need for energy also will increase. The optimal use of renewable energy sources is one of answers for Indonesian development in the future.
REFERENCES
1. P. D. Dunn, Renewable energy and developing countries. Energy and Environment 1, 28-38. Pergamon Press, Oxford (1990). 2. E. Salim, Towards a sustainable future. Development 2, 61-63. Christengraf (1990). 3. J. Speth, Environmental security for the 1990s. Development 3, 9-15. Christengraf (1990). 4. A. Andoyo, Implementation Strategies for Photovoltaic Rural Electrification. Jakarta (1989).
0960-1481/93 $6.00+.00 Pergamon Press Ltd
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INDONESIA: A RENEWABLE ENERGY PERSPECTIVE RAHMAT ROZALI,* AMAN MOSTAVAN* a n d SPENCER ALBRIGHTt *Department of Physics Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology, Ganesa 10, Bandung, 40133, Indonesia and tTexas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129, U.S.A. Abstract--The concept "sustainable development" has become popular in recent years. Different from the previous development concepts, this concept has begun to be discussed along with a greater emphasis on ecological concerns. In Indonesia, fossil fuel plays a big role in increasing the economic growth. But the problem is the reserve of this fuel supply is very limited, and its use has environmental impact. Seeing these facts, the role of renewable energy in Indonesia becomes important. Renewable energy sources such as geothermal, hydro-power, solar energy, biomass and tidal, which have not been optimally used, are expected to assist in the development of Indonesia in the future. This paper describes sustainable development with a perspective on renewable energy in Indonesia. Aspects which will be emphasized are geography, geology, energydemand, and renewableenergy resources. The following is a discussion of these issues.
INTRODUCTION
ENERGY DEMAND
In the beginning, development was only identified with economic growth. Its quantitative measurement was GNP or GDP. This development concept has been refined and finally a new concept has emerged called "sustainable development". This concept was begun to be discussed along with development's environmental impact. The phenomenon of greenhouse effect, acid rain, and pollution are the global issues which are widely discussed today. These are hot topics because of the rapid increased use of fossil fuel. The available renewable energy resources in Indonesia include geothermal, hydro-power, solar energy, biomass, tidal, etc. Each of these resources offer great potential, but as yet they are not being used optimally. Some effort on increasing the renewable energy sources will be discussed later.
From 1980 until 1990, Indonesian energy consumption showed an average increase of 10%. Compared to the world's average (1.8%), the Indonesian consumption rate is considerably higher. Most of the demand (65.5%) is satisfied by oil. At this time Indonesia is proceeding with an economic restructuring towards industry. With 180 million people and its rapid economic growth each year (over 6%), it is estimated that energy needs will be increased. For instance, regarding the electricity energy needs for industry and housing in the city regions: for the 6th national five-year development plan (1993-1998), an additional capacity of 13,432 MW (or 141%) compared to today's capacity (9,515 MW) is required. In rural areas at the end of 1991, the villages with electricity were only 22,288 or 36% of the total number of villages in Indonesia. In addition most lndonesians live in the villages.
GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY Indonesia is a geographically complex archipelago consisting of approximately 17,500 islands spread out over a distance of about 3,200 miles along the equator. It is the fourth most populous nation in the world, with over 180 million people. Geologically, Indonesia is richly endowed with a variety of mineral and energy resources. Non-renewable energy resources include oil, natural gas and coal. Renewable energy resources are solar, geothermal, hydro-power, wind, tidal, biomass, etc.
RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES
Geothermal and hydro-power Geothermal and hydro-power have great potential in Indonesia. Geothermal resources could generate electricity up to 16,000 MW. The geothermal sources currently used amount to about 142 MW (less than
1%). Indonesia also has hydro-power potential, equivalent to 75,000 MW. Indonesia has many rivers and 173
R. ROZALIet al.
174
half of them are capable of generating electricity over 100 MW. Until now only 2,889 MW or 3.8% of the potential is being used. Solar energy
Since Indonesia lies in a tropical climate, it has certain advantages in receiving solar radiation. For instance, it receives on average daily radiation of 6 h. The solar radiation energy application such as photovoltaic system, is very potential for rural electrification, water pumping, medical care, etc. Other resources
Other renewable energy resources such as wind, biomass, tidal, etc also have potential. As of today they are still being researched.
DISCUSSION Since the country has a great number of people and it is experiencing rapid economic growth, the role of energy has become an important factor. For domestic needs, the energy is used primarily for industry, transportation and household needs. In the rural sector, where energy demand has not been sufficiently fulfilled, especially electric power, it is still a problem. The low financial resources of the rural community to pay for electricity, distribution systems for electricity, and the very remote and widely dispersed location of the villages are the major issues that need to be given special attention. If electrified, it is expected that economic activity will increase and this will obviously change the prosperity of that community. So far the role of renewable energy in Indonesia has not yet reached its optimum because of various handicaps. For instance, the application of the geothermal and hydro-power require a considerably high initial investment for the power station construction and also for the distribution network. In addition the hydro-power and geothermal energy sources are only available in certain locations.
Regarding the PV electrification for rural areas, the low financial resources of the community has become the dominant factor. However PV electrification has great potential, especially in rural communities which are remote and widely dispersed. To exceed the need for energy in the future, a few steps should be promoted : - - T h e role of renewable energy systems must be heightened, so that over time, they can substitute for fossil fuel as much as possible. - - A l l energy, both renewable and non-renewable, should be used more efficiently. --Because of the financial situation in the rural community, a bigger role of the private sector and government is needed for implementing the application of PV electrification in rural areas. --Universities must provide leadership in the development and adoption of technology for renewable energy systems. --Regional and international interaction must be increased. Information exchange, training programmes, low interest grants, and production facilities are necessary in application of the renewable energy systems.
CONCLUSION Along with increased economic activity in Indonesia, the need for energy also will increase. The optimal use of renewable energy sources is one of answers for Indonesian development in the future.
REFERENCES
1. P. D. Dunn, Renewable energy and developing countries. Energy and Environment 1, 28-38. Pergamon Press, Oxford (1990). 2. E. Salim, Towards a sustainable future. Development 2, 61-63. Christengraf (1990). 3. J. Speth, Environmental security for the 1990s. Development 3, 9-15. Christengraf (1990). 4. A. Andoyo, Implementation Strategies for Photovoltaic Rural Electrification. Jakarta (1989).