Early this week Directorate General of Electricity and Energy Utilization has just announced the tendering of the provision 26 Solar Home System project packages. Each package has a volume from 500 up to 1200 systems. Most of the packages have average volume of 600 SHS. Total there will be around 17.000 solar home systems or almost 1 MW capacity. The money involve is around 120 billion IDR (equal to around 13 million US$ à exchange rate IDR 9.200 for 1 US$). Huge amount of money, huge capacity, huge work, many villages will be so called “electrified”, maybe some “corruption” (cannot smell it though…), unclear benefit to the recipient, and no real “economic” benefit to the country.
Biggest chunk of the price goes to PV panels (50 Wp panels) and I believe the contractor will just get cheap Chinese panels. There is no local industry to manufacture solar cell and laminate it to be solar panels. Therefore, the biggest money just flies away from Indonesia. No “real” progress for the Indonesians just more consumptions for “small number” of people that financially benefits from the project.
Enough for the complaints, let’s move to another field. I believe that electricity should be used beyond lighting. Lighting is just creating a false development feeling. One might feel developed after having electricity and lights. Nevertheless, I believe that there should be a more tangible impact rather than just brighter nights. This means electrical energy should be able to boost the productivity. Productivity means people producing something. Producing is not servicing. Giving service is just a mechanism to redistribute income. Productive use of electricity is the key.
How can solar home system be used for productive use? I am not an expert in solar power system, but I can always see that solar systems always involve battery and battery usually performs less and less and less and less. Things can get worse if the user just by-pass the battery charge/discharge control (happens always in the villages – learn this guys!!). Battery’s DoD is passed easily if one bypass the controller. Battery is the weakness of the system. I still cannot think of one solar home system that can support productive use..(provide me an example please??).
I am not against solar power, but please not waste a lot of money to provide SHS to the villages. There is no real or more tangible impact of it. It is just lighting. In the statistic, it will certainly look good because electrification ratio rises fast. SHS is fast to implement and next year is election so…this 120 US$ million is just political. They use villagers to make them look good for next year’s election.
Let's be pro-poor in a more tangible way...
7 August 2008
6 August 2008
Jakarta - A Dream for a Just City
There is this theory that says "a good city is a place where people like to go outside". Every kind of people: young or old, healthy or handicaped, rich or poor like to go outside. A good city is a place that gives equal chance and space to its people. That means equality or justice. Lesson from Bogota had showed that social changes can be stimulated by designing proper city. Life quality is improving and the city is becoming comfortable to live in. The government of Bogota has involved the people very much in the planning process. It is therefore the program was fully supported by people and it is successful.
What about Jakarta? For Indonesian, Jakarta is known as "the city that is more cruel than step mom" (Indonesian usually considers step mom is worse than real mom). Jakarta is the city that "survival of the fittest" really applies. You can find somebody that spends millions of Rupiah in a second and you can also find somebody that has only 20.000 Rupiah to spend for the whole week. High rise building and glamorous houses you can find many. Slumps and crowded settlements you can also find easily. The fittest here means those that have money and power.
To my opinion, Jakarta does not equally distribute public space to the people. Jakarta is not the type of city that makes people want to go outside and interact with other people. There is limited free access open space in Jakarta. Any free space will shortly become a slump, even under a fly over road.!! Jakarta is a magnet to many people. People want to come to Jakarta and collect their share of fortune that's why many people come to Jakarta and create those slumps. Every effort that try to free up that kind of open space will face rejections and oppositions from the people. I believe this is because the planning is not involving people very much in depth especially poor people. Government of Jakarta is not pro poor. Gov tends to support those with big money. You have big money, you get the privileges. One can easily see this "below conciousness" policy of Jakarta's govt. For example the building of many toll roads in Jakarta. Only the haves can use that!! Public transport is very poor and traffic congestion is everywhere. Only the haves that cause that!! Pro poor government is needed.
I also see that Govt of Jakarta can only copy strategies (exit strategies) of other city without deeply understand the philosophy and background conditon. For example the plan to build underground MRT should consider geological condition of Jakarta. There is this report that said Jakarta has many undergound voids due to exessive ground water use. This creates problems with soil stability and underground (or U-Bahn) needs stable soil. Underground will be a risky transport option in Jakarta. The government has to understand the situation now. They have to map their streght and weaknesses and involve people more (not just "corrupt" parliament). Govt of Jakarta has to understant its self.
And finally, Jakarta is a different breed of city. It faces different problem although the symptoms are the same. The solutions have to be genuine and original and they cannot be local because Jakarta also involves Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi and Depok. Developing new ideas for solution, government can involve the people.
Very final. I personally like Jakarta very much. The tempo is high and it makes me feel alive, but still I am dreaming for a better Jakarta. A city that is humanist and just..Let's hope and change it from ourselves (if you live in Jakarta...).
What about Jakarta? For Indonesian, Jakarta is known as "the city that is more cruel than step mom" (Indonesian usually considers step mom is worse than real mom). Jakarta is the city that "survival of the fittest" really applies. You can find somebody that spends millions of Rupiah in a second and you can also find somebody that has only 20.000 Rupiah to spend for the whole week. High rise building and glamorous houses you can find many. Slumps and crowded settlements you can also find easily. The fittest here means those that have money and power.
To my opinion, Jakarta does not equally distribute public space to the people. Jakarta is not the type of city that makes people want to go outside and interact with other people. There is limited free access open space in Jakarta. Any free space will shortly become a slump, even under a fly over road.!! Jakarta is a magnet to many people. People want to come to Jakarta and collect their share of fortune that's why many people come to Jakarta and create those slumps. Every effort that try to free up that kind of open space will face rejections and oppositions from the people. I believe this is because the planning is not involving people very much in depth especially poor people. Government of Jakarta is not pro poor. Gov tends to support those with big money. You have big money, you get the privileges. One can easily see this "below conciousness" policy of Jakarta's govt. For example the building of many toll roads in Jakarta. Only the haves can use that!! Public transport is very poor and traffic congestion is everywhere. Only the haves that cause that!! Pro poor government is needed.
I also see that Govt of Jakarta can only copy strategies (exit strategies) of other city without deeply understand the philosophy and background conditon. For example the plan to build underground MRT should consider geological condition of Jakarta. There is this report that said Jakarta has many undergound voids due to exessive ground water use. This creates problems with soil stability and underground (or U-Bahn) needs stable soil. Underground will be a risky transport option in Jakarta. The government has to understand the situation now. They have to map their streght and weaknesses and involve people more (not just "corrupt" parliament). Govt of Jakarta has to understant its self.
And finally, Jakarta is a different breed of city. It faces different problem although the symptoms are the same. The solutions have to be genuine and original and they cannot be local because Jakarta also involves Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi and Depok. Developing new ideas for solution, government can involve the people.
Very final. I personally like Jakarta very much. The tempo is high and it makes me feel alive, but still I am dreaming for a better Jakarta. A city that is humanist and just..Let's hope and change it from ourselves (if you live in Jakarta...).
5 August 2008
Energy Efficiency Policy -- Does it work?
Sometimes ago, president SBY has announced a new regulation that force government offices to reduce energy consumption to certain point. This has to do with energy efficiency campaign that is becoming a trend right now (as you might already know, PLN the public electricity company is facing generation deficit so that they have to do scheduled power down in Indonesia especially Java).
How does the government offices react to that regulation? My observation only conclude one thing: those offices react funnily. My office is in the Directorate for Electricity and Energy Utilization, to be exact side by side with Energy Conservation Sub Directorate. It is dark in the corridor. The lift is operated only for the even floors. Air con is on at 09.00 and off at 15.00. But split AC are everywhere. Windows are not properly shut or sealed. Building is covered with aluminum cover (looks nice). Main doors are kept open. Low efficiency fluorescent lamps are operated. Lift is still using incandescent lamps. TV's are on all the time. Computer still use CRT screen.
As far as I understand, energy efficiency should not reduce the comfort or quality of life. Making the corridor darker is reducing comfort. It is also not nice. Lift should be able to operate for odd and even floors. For the lift operation, basically I can cope with that. Makes you healtier. Air con can start operate at later hours e.g. 10.00 and shut down at later hours e.g. 16.00. Spilt air con should be managed so that not every room has split air con. Rule and regulation has to be enforced.
Windows should be propely shut or sealed. The windows in this office are using aluminum frame with rubber seal. In many cases I still can see that the rubber seal does not sealing at all. Thermal load can still get in from that leaks. Putting aluminum cover on the outer wall of the building in my opinion is just increasing thermal load. Aluminum is metal and metal absorb heat better. The heat is then transferred to the wall and makes the wall warmer. Warm wall means more thermal load to the AC system. Lamps also should be all changed. Low efficiency fluorescent lamps and incandescent should be changed to CFL or other better performing lamps.
Government offices use passive action to reduce energy consumption. They should have been do it differently. If one has to do make changes that assess what to be changed and calculate the saving possibilities. I do not believe they make economic analysis when they decided to put aluminum wall cover. Although DGEEU has many smart engineers but I do not think they use their talent and skill or their voices are not heard by their superiors. Who knows.
Anyway. Energy efficiency is becoming a need now. Start it from your self. If not it will not work.
How does the government offices react to that regulation? My observation only conclude one thing: those offices react funnily. My office is in the Directorate for Electricity and Energy Utilization, to be exact side by side with Energy Conservation Sub Directorate. It is dark in the corridor. The lift is operated only for the even floors. Air con is on at 09.00 and off at 15.00. But split AC are everywhere. Windows are not properly shut or sealed. Building is covered with aluminum cover (looks nice). Main doors are kept open. Low efficiency fluorescent lamps are operated. Lift is still using incandescent lamps. TV's are on all the time. Computer still use CRT screen.
As far as I understand, energy efficiency should not reduce the comfort or quality of life. Making the corridor darker is reducing comfort. It is also not nice. Lift should be able to operate for odd and even floors. For the lift operation, basically I can cope with that. Makes you healtier. Air con can start operate at later hours e.g. 10.00 and shut down at later hours e.g. 16.00. Spilt air con should be managed so that not every room has split air con. Rule and regulation has to be enforced.
Windows should be propely shut or sealed. The windows in this office are using aluminum frame with rubber seal. In many cases I still can see that the rubber seal does not sealing at all. Thermal load can still get in from that leaks. Putting aluminum cover on the outer wall of the building in my opinion is just increasing thermal load. Aluminum is metal and metal absorb heat better. The heat is then transferred to the wall and makes the wall warmer. Warm wall means more thermal load to the AC system. Lamps also should be all changed. Low efficiency fluorescent lamps and incandescent should be changed to CFL or other better performing lamps.
Government offices use passive action to reduce energy consumption. They should have been do it differently. If one has to do make changes that assess what to be changed and calculate the saving possibilities. I do not believe they make economic analysis when they decided to put aluminum wall cover. Although DGEEU has many smart engineers but I do not think they use their talent and skill or their voices are not heard by their superiors. Who knows.
Anyway. Energy efficiency is becoming a need now. Start it from your self. If not it will not work.
1 August 2008
The fate of remote MHP...
The government is not learning at all. There is no coordination in implementing projects. Different departments doing the same kind of thing without telling each other. Standard is not enforced. Bad planning is practiced. A sad story for people receiving the project result.
This is happen for micro hydro projects. Department of Energy is doing it; Department of Cooperative is doing it; Ministry of Underprivileged Area is also doing it. No one talk to each other. Department of Energy implement the projects in a relatively better way. Technically each site are examined so that the investment will not just be wasted. Department of cooperative also do it relatively better because of strong counterpart. The sad one is for Ministry of Underpriviledged Area (PDT - Pembangunan Daerah Tertinggal).
PDT use this standard: 950 million IDR for 20 kW micro hydro plant where ever it will be constructed. Addition of budget is possible for considerably remote area such as Papua (but the addition still not enough). PDT usually does projects in remote areas especially in the border area. Politically this is OK, but technically the plant is usually done poorly. The identification team usually did not do the job well. For example a 10 meter head with 60 liters of water per second must produce 11 kW of power (do not laugh..this is true in Long Berang). The planning team did not plan well (usually done by consultant) and the tender team does not know technical aspect at all. Contractor that knows better micro hydro and make some suggestions to make the scheme better will not win the contract. Contractor that has 10 years experience lose a contract because of some 20 pages profile fake companies (that usually sell the project to other companies - a.k.a project broker). This is sad, but the government does not do anything, at least maybe not yet.
In the field the result is also very poor. In Long Berang, the scheme was only in operation for 3 weeks and then it is broken. Millions of Rupiah just gone...and the people do not benefit from it.
I personally in the opinion that such projects should be done by proper department i.e. Department of energy. Although not 100% perfect but DoE can enforce certain standards and really know technical aspects of it (even the tender team or they call it tender committee knows technical aspect of micro hydro). If PDT or cooperative department want to support then provide supports on the soft component of micro hydro scheme such as community organizing, productive use development etc...
But, this might still be a dream. Let's hope that the government realize the mistake and take serious step on it. When it is about money...I still have to dream about this...but still I hope and pray.
This is happen for micro hydro projects. Department of Energy is doing it; Department of Cooperative is doing it; Ministry of Underprivileged Area is also doing it. No one talk to each other. Department of Energy implement the projects in a relatively better way. Technically each site are examined so that the investment will not just be wasted. Department of cooperative also do it relatively better because of strong counterpart. The sad one is for Ministry of Underpriviledged Area (PDT - Pembangunan Daerah Tertinggal).
PDT use this standard: 950 million IDR for 20 kW micro hydro plant where ever it will be constructed. Addition of budget is possible for considerably remote area such as Papua (but the addition still not enough). PDT usually does projects in remote areas especially in the border area. Politically this is OK, but technically the plant is usually done poorly. The identification team usually did not do the job well. For example a 10 meter head with 60 liters of water per second must produce 11 kW of power (do not laugh..this is true in Long Berang). The planning team did not plan well (usually done by consultant) and the tender team does not know technical aspect at all. Contractor that knows better micro hydro and make some suggestions to make the scheme better will not win the contract. Contractor that has 10 years experience lose a contract because of some 20 pages profile fake companies (that usually sell the project to other companies - a.k.a project broker). This is sad, but the government does not do anything, at least maybe not yet.
In the field the result is also very poor. In Long Berang, the scheme was only in operation for 3 weeks and then it is broken. Millions of Rupiah just gone...and the people do not benefit from it.
I personally in the opinion that such projects should be done by proper department i.e. Department of energy. Although not 100% perfect but DoE can enforce certain standards and really know technical aspects of it (even the tender team or they call it tender committee knows technical aspect of micro hydro). If PDT or cooperative department want to support then provide supports on the soft component of micro hydro scheme such as community organizing, productive use development etc...
But, this might still be a dream. Let's hope that the government realize the mistake and take serious step on it. When it is about money...I still have to dream about this...but still I hope and pray.
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