A solar power plant (PLTS) with a capacity of 2 megawatt peak (MWp) has begun operating in Gorontalo, meeting the energy needs of people in the province with renewable power.

Located in Motihelumo, East Sumalata district, North Gorontalo regency, the Sumalata PLTS is said to be Sulawesi's biggest solar plant.

Putu Eka Astawa, manager of state-owned electricity company PLN for North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and Gorontalo, told thejakartapost.com that the Sumalata PLTS could supply electricity for 4,000 households.

He said the electricity output from the Sumalata PLTS had been integrated with Gorontalo's power network, which also relies on other sources, such as a diesel power station and a steam-fueled power plant, for its electricity supply.

Built on a 5-hectare plot of land, the Sumalata PLTS took around eight months to build, and officially began operating at the end of February. At least 8,600 solar panels are installed at the plant.

The peak load from the Sumalata PLTS is estimated to occur for around three hours, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with an electricity load of 2,049 kilowatt peak.

Previously, the use of solar energy in North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi and Gorontalo only reached 1 MWp.

Built based on a partnership between PLN and an independent power producer (IPP), the Sumalata PLTS is the second IPP-funded solar plant in Indonesia.

Earlier, PLN built a solar power plant with a capacity of 5 MWp in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.

Putu said the existing load in North Sulawesi and Gorontalo reached 325 MW on average, while the electricity capacity was 395 MW. 'Currently, there is an electricity reserve of around 70 MW,' he said on Wednesday.

Gorontalo Governor Rusli said it was hoped that the electricity reserve in the province could help push economic growth.

'Each time an investor sounds out a possibility to invest in the province, the electricity capacity in Gorontalo is the main issue they always question,' he said recently. (ebf)