English
Indonesian
So far, the main challenges in implementing renewable energy have been related to operation and maintenance, which is crucial for the sustainability of solar power plants built and implemented within the community. Continuous training for operators is essential to support the increase in capacity of both technicians and the community, so that when damage occurs, it can be addressed promptly and the basic need for electricity access can be maintained. Therefore, NZMATES, in collaboration with the Maluku Provincial Energy and Mineral Resources Agency (Dinas ESDM) , conducted training on the operation and maintenance of solar microgrids at two 40 kWp solar power plant locations in Kolaha and Waria villages, North East Aru Batuley District, Aru Islands Regency, on 11-14 July 2024.
In addition to training, NZMATES also provided awareness-raising on institutional arrangements to manage the two integrated remote solar built by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources-EBTKE in 2023. This is an active form of support for the sustainability of renewable energy programmes in Maluku Province. According to field assessments conducted by NZMATES, community-based electrification models are more likely to suffer early failure compared to those managed by PLN. Several factors contribute to this, with some systems experiencing damage just one month after operation. In locations with good performance, the systems still only functioned for less than three years.
The training sessions at each location, Kolaha and Waria villages, went smoothly. The training began with a site review of the solar power plant and continued with direct on-site training with operators at both locations. Operators were trained on the use and reading of measuring instruments according to their respective functions, including the measurement and inspection of PV modules, PV combiners, batteries, and grounding systems. Due to the operators’ limited education and basic level of knowledge on solar power plants, the material was presented in easily understandable language, using common or locally used technical terms.
Moreover, because the training was conducted directly at the solar sites, operators could immediately address and ask questions about their concerns. This made the learning process more effective and allowed operators to grasp the concepts more quickly. Although these operators had previously received similar two-week training in Jakarta, there were differences in the inverter specifications used during the training and those at their local sites, which caused confusion. NZMATES also created a WhatsApp group for operators to monitor and address any questions or issues that arise in future.
The communities of Kolaha and Waria villages expressed their gratitude for the training provided by NZMATES. In addition to operator training, NZMATES also conducted socialization on safe electricity use. Dinas ESDMt also emphasized the importance of understanding the organizational model for operating solar power plants, which can allow the villages to become more self-reliant and advanced in managing their solar assets. This socialization serves as a gateway to understanding efficient energy management and usage. Furthermore, the community hopes that in the future, electricity in their area can be used for more productive enterprises, eliminating the need for generators for ice production or purchasing ice from outside areas. If this is achieved, the local economy will grow.
