Enviro News Asia, Sukoharjo — At the meeting room of the Bengawan Solo River Basin Authority on Tuesday morning, 18 November 2025, the Ministry of Public Works (PU) discussed an increasingly urgent agenda in Indonesia’s energy transition: the development plan for floating solar power plants (PLTS) across 259 reservoirs managed by the ministry.
The meeting, which began at 08:30 WIB, was attended by technical units for water resource management, energy planners, and infrastructure financing teams. One central question emerged across the long table: how to utilize reservoir surfaces without disrupting their primary functions, while simultaneously expanding large-scale green electricity supply.
Participants agreed that floating solar technology offers benefits beyond energy generation. In addition to producing clean electricity, floating panels on reservoir surfaces are considered capable of reducing water evaporation rates. In drought-prone regions, this added value is significant.
However, developing floating solar facilities cannot be rushed. Discussions highlighted the need for detailed technical assessments for each site. The technical team emphasized several key variables, including reservoir depth and surface area, structural safety, grid connection capacity, and potential impacts on aquatic ecosystems. “Not all reservoirs are ready, but the potential is enormous,” said one official attending the meeting.
The ongoing study will serve as the foundation for policy decisions in the next phase of renewable energy implementation. During the meeting, the Directorate of Water Resources Infrastructure Financing underscored another critical point: integrity. They stressed the mandatory application of SNI ISO 37001:2016 on Anti-Bribery Management Systems (SMAP) in all financing processes and public services.
According to the ministry, this effort is part of strengthening the Integrity Zone toward a Corruption-Free Area (WBK). With substantial investment needed for renewable energy infrastructure, enforcing anti-bribery standards is deemed essential to ensure that projects proceed cleanly, efficiently, and with public trust.
The Ministry of Public Works hopes this step marks a new chapter in more transparent and sustainable infrastructure governance. While preparing detailed technical studies for floating solar power plants, the institution conveys a clear message: the energy transition cannot be separated from integrity reform. Both must move forward in tandem. (*)
