Local Institutional Roles Support Sustainable Village Electricity Management

TAMBOLAKA - The involvement of the community and local governments is crucial in the development of new energy and renewable energy (EBT) infrastructure. Moreover, the use of appropriate technology also contributes to the sustainability aspect of EBT infrastructure.

Currently, the government is drafting a Presidential Regulation on Technical Guidelines for Special Allocation Funds (DAK) for Physical Infrastructure, which is expected to be enacted by the end of this year. The scope of the Special Allocation Fund (DAK) for Renewable Energy Infrastructure in 2023 focuses on the construction of centralized off-grid solar power plants (PLTS Terpusat).

"DAK activities were halted in 2019; based on evaluations, it turned out that the infrastructure built was not sustainable due to the lack of a sustainable asset management system by local governments. Therefore, the presence of local institutions and local capacity building becomes crucial to ensure the sustainability of the already constructed renewable energy infrastructure," said Andriah Feby Misna, Director of New and Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, during the opening of the Socialization of the Role of Local Institutions in Supporting the Sustainability of Village Electricity Management in Tambolaka, Southwest Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, today (30/9).

In the provision of clean energy access, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, through the Directorate General of New Energy, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation, has built several EBT infrastructure mainly in the frontier, outermost, disadvantaged (3T) areas, and transmigration areas. Infrastructure built includes Solar Power Plants (PLTS), Micro Hydro Power Plants (PLTMh), Biomass Power Plants, hybrid systems, provision of Energy-Efficient Solar Lamps (LTSHE), Solar Street Lighting (PJU-TS), and APDAL (Electric Power Distributor Device). The construction of this infrastructure is funded by the state budget (APBN) and Special Allocation Funds (DAK).

The proposed Special Allocation Fund for Renewable Energy Infrastructure (DAK-IET) will be directed towards accelerating the increase in the national electrification ratio, increasing the share of new renewable energy in the national energy mix, promoting the development of renewable energy in regions, and supporting the implementation of Regional Energy Plans (RUED).

Through the evaluation process, East Nusa Tenggara became one of the provinces allocated with the Special Allocation Fund for Renewable Energy Infrastructure. Out of 33 proposed locations by the Provincial ESDM Agency, 21 locations have been approved for the construction of EBT infrastructure with a budget of Rp 88 billion. Proposed locations in the NTT region include 6 locations in Central Sumba Regency, 3 locations in West Sumba Regency, 9 locations in East Sumba Regency, and 3 locations in Southwest Sumba Regency.

At the same event, Verania Andria, Senior Advisor to the Renewable Energy Strategic Programme of UNDP Indonesia, offered a comprehensive partnership model to achieve sustainable EBT infrastructure development targets.

"UNDP, through funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency, the Mentari Program with funding from the British Government, and the Special Allocation Fund of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, is used on the upstream side to build village electricity facilities, while on the downstream side, the Ministry of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (PDTT) welcomes it through Village-Owned Enterprises (Bumdes) as the managing institution," said Verania.

It should be noted that in the draft Presidential Regulation related to DAK, it is stated that the management of renewable energy utilization installations built from the Special Allocation Fund for Renewable Energy Infrastructure allows local governments to appoint managing institutions through BumDes, Village Cooperative Enterprises, or other local institutions in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations.

One of the partnership programs to assist in the management of renewable energy infrastructure is implemented through the Accelerating Clean Energy Access to Reduce Inequality (ACCESS) grant project. The Directorate General of New Energy, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) together with UNDP Indonesia, with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has been implementing the ACCESS project since 2020.

The ACCESS project targets the construction of solar power plants in 23 locations in East Nusa Tenggara, Southeast Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, and Central Kalimantan in 2023, equipped with remote monitoring systems in 23 villages. In addition, the ACCESS program also provides training and certification for local PLTS operators (in collaboration with PPSDM KEBTKE), as well as the establishment of local service/management institutions (RESCO/Bumdes).

This article is a repost from:

https://ebtke.esdm.go.id/post/2022/10/03/3283/peran.kelembagaan.lokal.dukung.keberlanjutan.pengelolaan.listrik.desa