Sembcorp launches Nusantara solar power plant to serve its electricity needs
It is part of the company’s venture into large-scale solar development in the Indonesian capital
SEMBCORP Industries announced its launch of a power plant in Indonesia’s capital Nusantara on Monday (Jan 20).
The Nusantara Sembcorp Solar Energi Power Plant is a joint initiative between Sembcorp’s wholly owned subsidiary PT Sembcorp Renewables Indonesia and PT PLN Nusantara Renewables, a unit under Indonesian government-owned utilities corporation PLN.
Its launch is part of Sembcorp’s venture into large-scale solar development in Indonesia as the plant is the first utility-scale integrated solar and energy storage project in the country that contains both solar farming and energy storage capabilities, the energy and urban solutions provider said.
Based on Sembcorp’s website, a utility-scale solar farm is one that generates vast amounts of solar energy equivalent to the capacity produced by a full-scale power utility. The generated solar energy can be supplied to the grid as a renewable energy source.
In March 2024, Sembcorp announced its entry into utility-scale solar development in Indonesia via a joint venture with PLN that involved the construction of solar capabilities and battery storage facilities in Nusantara.
Sembcorp Industries head of renewables (Singapore and Indonesia) Jen Tan said: “We will deploy advanced energy storage to pair with the latest solar technology in this landmark utility-scale project.”
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Built on around 87 hectares (ha) of land, the plant comprises a 50 megawatt (MW) solar farm fitted with 114,420 solar panels. This is alongside a 14.2 MW hour battery energy storage system holding 126 battery packs.
It is capable of generating about 93 gigawatt (GW) hours of green energy per year – which will serve all the power needs of Nusantara, said Sembcorp.
Solar panels are responsible for capturing sunlight which is converted into power that can be stored in batteries or channelled to the grid for transmission.
The plant will help prevent about 104,000 tonnes of annual carbon dioxide emissions, which translates to the removal of around 24,000 cars off the road each year, the company added.
Its launch ceremony held on Monday was attended by Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto.
Sembcorp has an energy portfolio of 25.9 GW, including 16.5 GW of gross renewable energy capacity from assets it owns – including projects secured and under construction – across 10 countries. Its urban development projects span more than 14,000 ha throughout Asia.
Shares of Sembcorp traded 0.5 per cent or S$0.03 lower at S$5.63 as at 11.51 am on Tuesday.
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