MoU between ACE and ITB has been ongoing for a long time and currently is being to directed support ACE in implementing the 2nd Phase of APEC: 2021-2025, especially under the Renewable and Regional Energy Policy and Development program. This event was carried out at the Sheraton Hotel, Bandung, on Monday (21/11/2022).

The signing of the MoU was accompanied by a workshop titled "Dissemination Workshop on Solar PV + Studies and Implementations in ASEAN" which aim to improve the awareness of solar panel power plan in addition to being a discussion forum for professionals and policymakers in ASEAN to develop new ideas on environmentally friendly technologies and policy adaptation. This workshop was done in partnership with China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute (CREEI) for two days in Bandung, Indonesia. ITB also actively participated in this workshop.

The ITB University Secretary, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ir. Widjaja Martokusumo expressed his proudness at being able to work with ACE on the Solar Panel program in ASEAN. ITB became the first university in Indonesia to sign an MoU with ACE, therefore, indirectly also became the leader of the energy transformation effect in Indonesia.

Prof. Widjaja also said that academically, ITB has always kept a close eye on scientific developments and is ready to fully contribute to applying its knowledge in solving the problems that are being faced by the community. Together with the industry and the government, ITB is ready to fully participate in technological innovation.

"ITB has always been ready and open to fully contribute in every initiative and productive collaboration to support the energy transition in ASEAN," said Prof. Widjaja.

The Main Director of the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) Dr. Nuki Agya Utama said that currently, we are facing supply and demand problems for energy. On top of that, the 2020 pandemic has caused energy demand to decrease by 30% and disturbed the supply chain. Therefore, renewable energy sources become the most important part of securing energy supplies.

This collaboration and workshop became a milestone for collaboration and cooperation from a technological perspective, centre for research, academic, and policy making. 2023 will become the opening year in providing solutions for renewable energy source implementation.

"This collaboration is very important for us to help ASEAN and to provide solutions for the future instead of becoming a source of problems in the future," said Nuki.

Before signing the MoU, the event was opened by a remark from the Directorate General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (Ditjen EBTKE) from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Andriah Feby Misna, S.T., M.T. According to her, solar panel is a very suitable energy source for the countries in the ASEAN region. Its large potential makes solar panel the main priority in the energy transition process and in supporting the 2060 Net Zero Emission target.

Solar panel installations in the last year consist of 82% of all solar panels installed in the ASEAN region. In the year 2021, Vietnam became the largest solar panel user amounting to 60,7 GigaWatt followed by Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. In 2025, the total capacity of solar panel energy is expected to reach 8000 GigaWatt. Therefore, in 2060 solar panel is expected to supply 60% of the total energy or around 4000 GigaWatt.

Andriah explained that the Indonesian Government has targeted that solar panels will become the main energy source with a capacity of 4,68 GigaWatt by the year 2030. This is within the framework of an effecting economic recovery approach after the country's economic downturn due to the Covid pandemic in 2020.

Reporter: Pravito Septadenova Dwi Ananta (Geological Engineering, 2019)
Translator: Favian Aldilla R (Civil Engineering, 2019)