INDONESIA"S FUTURE CAPITAL CITY AIRPORT MAKES SOLAR POWER COMMITMENT

APT Pranoto Airport is set to become Indonesia's first gateway to utilise solar powered energy after signing a deal to have photovoltaic panels installed on rooftops across the airport site.

The airport, located in Samarinda, capital of East Kalimantan province, will work with Total Solar Distributed Generation on the project.

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According to Total Solar DG, the 600 kilowatts-peak (kWp) system will have the capacity to generate 755 megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable electricity a year, covering around 20% of the airport's power needs, and enough to power 54 Indonesian 4-bedroom houses. 

Around 1,800 solar panels will allow an annual reduction of 821 tons of CO2 emissions, equivalent to planting 12,315 trees per year.

APT Pranoto Airport is to become one of the major airports in Indonesia, following the government's decision to move the capital city from Jakarta to Kutai, East Kalimantan, in 2024.

"This project will drive down costs and carbon footprint in a safe and sustainable way," said Gavin Adda, CEO of Total Solar DG SEA. 

"This project is a new milestone in our commitment to developing renewable energies and we are looking forward to keep providing clean energy for Indonesian customers."

Dodi Cahyadi, head of APT Pranoto Airport, noted: "Following the direction from the government of Indonesia to start running green initiatives and sustainable acts, APT Pranoto Airport has decided to respond to this guidance. 

"We are very proud to be able to lead the way towards this programme and sincerely hope this project will add a positive contribution to the country and it may serve as exemplar for other airports."

It is estimated that it will take six months to install the solar panels.