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Solar Panel Use in the East Palapa Ring

Papua | September 16, 2021 The central government continues to optimize the use of solar energy as a New and Renewable Energy (NRE) source to address the energy crisis that has been occurring since the 1970s. Furthermore, this method does not produce pollution that can damage the environment.

The abundant sunlight can be converted into electricity through solar cell technology.

As a component of the Implementing Business Entity (BUP) for the Palapa Ring Timur National Strategic Project, PT Palapa Timur Telematika (PTT) is implementing the use of solar panels as an energy option to operate its Palapa Ring Timur service equipment.

A total of 54 sites use solar panels, including 21 Network Operation Centers and 33 Microwave Towers covering projects 9-17 of the Palapa Ring Timur.

The use of solar panels also aims to address site issues in remote, remote (3T) regions where PLN electricity is not yet available, such as in the mountains of Papua at altitudes above 3000 meters above sea level.

Simply put, solar panels work by absorbing sunlight and storing the resulting energy in a battery. As a result, the electrical equipment can still operate even in the afternoon/evening, or during rainy conditions.

One challenge in energy absorption is that light intensity is affected by weather conditions, such as the Papuan highlands, rainfall, and thick clouds that affect the intensity of sunlight utilization.

One of the PTT Tower sites (C7), located at an altitude of >4,000 meters above sea level, often experiences low sunlight intensity. To address this, PTT has added solar panels to increase its solar energy absorption capacity.