Aceh Has Renewable Energy Potentially, But Still Less Utilization

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. PLN)

ACEH - Aceh's Department of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) stated that Indonesia's westernmost province still has a lot of potential renewable energy, such as hydropower, geothermal and others.

"Currently the potential in Aceh, especially renewable energy is very large. Water energy alone, the potential reaches 5,147 MW located in 70 locations in Aceh," said Head of the Aceh Energy and Mineral Resources Service Mahdinur, as reported by Antara, Saturday, December 24.

This was conveyed by Mahdinur in his presentation at the 'Ngopi Kebangsaan' discussion held by the DPD of the National Alumni Family Association of the National Resilience Institution (DPD IKAL) Aceh, in Banda Aceh.

Mahdinur said, in addition to hydropower, Aceh has geothermal power with a potential of more than 1,143 MW, and there are more than 22 fields. Then, also have solar power whose potential reaches 7,881 MW.

"Aceh has potential energy, not to mention the abundant wind power and bioenergy in Aceh, it could be even bigger," he said.

Even though it has potential energy, said Mahdinur, its utilization is still very small, and some have not even been touched at all, such as wind energy, geothermal heat, and bio-energy.

Mahdinur said, of the 5.147 MW potential for hydroelectric power in Aceh, so far only 33.MW has been used in 30 locations out of 70 existing locations. Then, for geothermal power, 65 MW has been explored in two locations in Aceh, and new Suraya personnel are used at 0.94 MW in 26 locations.

Solar power has only received a recommendation from the Governor of Aceh of 127 MW in two locations. Meanwhile, Bioenergy has only been explored 137 units at 11 locations. "So it is clear that the renewable energy resources are very large and potential in Aceh. But its utilization is still small and has not been touched at all," he said.

In addition, Mahdinur also said that a number of local, national and international entrepreneurs have explored the business opportunities of the future, and there are even entrepreneurs who have signed exploration contracts in Aceh.

Regarding regulations, continued Mahdinur, Aceh also has a number of regulations regarding energy, namely Law Number 11 of 2006 concerning the Government of Aceh (UUPA), Qanun Aceh Number 4 of 2019.

"Finally, Aceh also has instructions from the Governor of Aceh Number 16 of 2022, regarding the acceleration of the use of battery-based electric motorized vehicles within the Aceh government, this strongly supports Aceh's readiness to deal with the energy transition," said Mahdinur.