Smart Grid Accelerates Electrification in 3T Regions
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif (Photo: PR of Cabinet Secretariat)
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif expressed optimism that smart grid construction can accelerate the electrification process in the frontier, outermost, and underdeveloped (3T) regions.
“Smart Grid technology is not only limited to Information and Communication Technology. In fact, it can also be utilized for efficient power system automation in 3T regions by leveraging the local renewable energy through Smart Micro Grid concept,” he said, cited from the website of Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Sunday (28/02/2021).
Smart Grid technology, said Arifin, is considered capable of increasing consumer participation in electricity system with the installation of Smart Meter that uses a two-way communication concept.
“Consumers will turn into prosumers or consumers who can produce their own electricity, both using Solar Home System and Microhydro System,” he stated.
The Minister also expressed hope that through this technology development, the national electrification ratio, which reached 99.20 percent at the end of 2020, can increase. The achievement is almost double the ratio in 2000, which was only 53 percent.
The Government has implemented a policy on network extension in on-grid regions to improve reliability and efficiency. Meanwhile, in 3T regions, the Government has taken an off-grid approach to expand access to power, including through Solar PV and Talis battery packs.
According to Arifin, the topography of Indonesia is not an obstacle to the Government in providing public access to electricity. “Several strategies to provide electricity are carried out on-grid and off grid,” he said.
Therefore, regional governments play an important role in Smart Grid development to improve the electrification ratio in their respective region. This is in line with the mandate of Government Regulation Number 25 of 2021 on the Implementation of Energy and Mineral Resources as an implementing regulation of Law Number 11 of 2020 on Job Creation.
“One of the mandates of the Government Regulation is that regional governments provide a budget/fund for underprivileged people and utilize the fund to develop Smart Grid technology to accelerate the achievement of electrification ratio in their respective region,” stated Arifin.
He also expressed appreciation for state-owned electricity company PT PLN that succeeded to modernize power infrastructure through digitalization by implementing Advanced Metering Infrastructure in Jakarta and Digital Substation in Sepatan II project. Smart Grid technology has also been developed through Remote Engineering, Monitoring, Diagnostic and Optimization Center (REMDOC) and Reliability Efficiency Optimization Center (REOC).
For the record, Smart Grid is a power network system that is complemented with advanced information and communication technology that enables efficient power setting system, provides reliable high voltage power supply, allows utilization of renewable energy source, and enables consumer participation in power supply. (PR of Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources/UN) (DH/EP)
