Disaster strikes close to the largest solar farm afloat in Sumatra, causing distress in the surrounding neighborhood
In the heart of West Sumatra, Indonesia, a significant shift in energy production is underway. The region, once largely devoid of electricity, is now poised to become a hub for renewable energy, with plans to increase its capacity by 70% over the next decade.
This transition is not without controversy, however. The largest solar field in Sumatra to date, a joint venture between the Indonesian state-owned electricity utility PLN and Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power, is planned for Lake Singkarak. The solar installation, a floating array generating up to 50 MW, is set to be centred on the lake.
The Singkarak solar farm's potential impacts have been a topic of discussion, with concerns raised about the lake ecosystem and the lives of the Indigenous people who rely on it. The bilih fish, an endemic species in the lake, has been a particular point of concern, with Helmi Kautsar, chief executive of ACWA's local subsidiary, assuring that the solar farm will not interfere with their natural habitat.
However, Beyrra Triasdian, renewable energy lead at Trend Asia, has expressed concern about potential disturbance or disappearance of endemic aquatic creatures and the impact on the lives of the Indigenous people in Lake Singkarak. Anecdotal testimony indicates that local people remain concerned about risks of damage to the lake ecosystem.
The Singkarak hydropower plant, with a capacity of 175 megawatts, was built to power hundreds of thousands of homes in West Sumatra province. Yet, Ardinis, who was involved in an environmental audit of the plant, has reported structural leaks in the tunnel wall, leading to unregulated water accumulation in the landscape and the deprivation of natural irrigation for some rice fields.
This incident, coupled with the flash flood that occurred 25 years ago in Guguak Malalo ward, Tanah Datar district, West Sumatra, known locally as galodoh, has led to a call for transparency and community benefit. Andre Rosiade, a parliamentarian from the ruling party who represents West Sumatra, has travelled to the site to mediate between PLN and local residents. He guarantees that every investment in West Sumatra will have to benefit the community.
Fabby Tumiwa, executive director of the Jakarta-based Institute for Essential Services Reform, advocates for solar energy development in Indonesia and emphasizes the importance of full transparency. The story highlights the need to centre human rights in the just energy transition to avoid causing widespread harm to Indigenous peoples and local communities.
Indonesia's new 10-year energy plan could see around 71 gigawatts of new capacity brought online over the next decade, with renewables accounting for a third of the grid by 2035, up from just 12% at present. Mongabay.com has published a story about the Singkarak solar farm and its potential impacts, shedding light on this significant transition in West Sumatra.
