Energy is also a hot political topic in many parts of the world with support for different energy alternatives increasingly based on political bias. Indonesia, like many parts of the developing world, faces significant challenges as energy demands continue to grow. Further, access to energy is not equal with large cities having access to cheap and reliable energy while many remote communities still have limited access to electricity.
We need to look past the politics and focus on the economic and technical aspects of renewable energy. At Solar Power Indonesia, we are not “Solar Evangelists” or “armchair enthusiasts” – neither claiming solar-powered renewable energy systems are the universal solution to the challenge of delivering affordable and reliable energy to communities or that solar intermittency is somehow a threat to humanity. Are there challenges? Yes. Are there solutions to these challenges? Yes, most definitely
Solar energy is cheap, clean, and abundant – and for this reason solar energy is likely to become a dominant contributor to the energy mix of the 21st century. The total amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth’s surface each year is about 12,000 times the total global energy consumption. From the crop’s we grow to the fossil fuels we burn, almost all the energy we’ve ever used has come from the sun. It’s an energy source that can power our homes, our transportation, and our economy.
One of the biggest challenges facing solar energy is intermittency – the fact that the sun doesn’t always shine. But humanity has always found ways to overcome this. From storing grains and crops to modern energy storage technologies, we’ve developed innovative solutions to ensure a steady supply of energy.
As the world transitions to a low-carbon economy, solar energy will play an increasingly important role. Yes, the sun does not always shine and solar yields are variable, but they are also highly predictable and with advances in energy storage and grid management, yield variability is becoming less and less of an issue. The challenges we face help guide us to the solutions we need. There is not a one size fits all solution in the transition to a clean energy future, but one thing is clear: solar energy will be a key element in humanity’s transition to a sustainable, clean energy future. If you are looking for innovative solutions to your energy challenges, please get in contact – we love a challenge!
