Masdar wins Asian Power Awards for Southeast Asia’s largest floating solar power plant

The project is said to produce higher solar panel efficiency and productivity.

Clean energy pioneer Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar) took home the Solar Power Project of the Year prize at the Asian Power Awards for its development of the Cirata 145 MW (MWac) (192MWp) Floating Solar Plant.

The plant was inaugurated last week by Masdar, the UAE’s clean energy powerhouse, and Indonesia’s state-owned utility company, PLN, in the presence of HE Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia. 

Located on a 250-hectare plot on the Cirata reservoir in the West Java Province, the project is Southeast Asia’s largest solar plant and will significantly contribute to Indonesia’s target of achieving 23% renewable energy by 2025. In September, Masdar announced major expansion plans after signing an agreement with PLN Nusantara Power to develop Phase II of the Cirata project by adding up to 500MW.

“Floating solar is known to have a number of advantages beyond reducing land usage, including higher solar panel efficiency and productivity due to its close proximity to the water surface that helps cool the panels,” the company said.

The plant has installed state-of-the-art floating solar technology, enabling it to generate the highest energy production for a facility of its kind. The design of the infrastructure takes into consideration the very deep nature of the reservoir, which is approximately 100 metres in depth, as well as the environmental sustainability and integrity of its surroundings.

Moreover, it has contributed to the solar ecosystem in Indonesia by investing in and supporting Indonesian equipment manufacturers to satisfy local content requirements. The plant was given priority status in Indonesia by the government in recognition of its social and economic benefits.

Masdar has also conducted a series of social initiatives throughout the development of the project by raising awareness of sustainability issues and strengthening local community engagement. During the construction, the company has also executed corporate social responsibility programmes to support the Cirata community. This includes funding the refurbishment of several village schools to make them safer places for children to study and play.

The Asian Power Awards, now in its 19th year, celebrates and honours companies and projects that have taken innovative and game-changing steps to address the effects of the climate crisis and meet the growing demand for energy.

The Asian Power Awards is presented by Asian Power Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2024 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's revolutionary innovations and initiatives in the power industry in Asia, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez at [email protected].