Why India needs hi-tech bio toilets to stop 620 million people defecating in the open

More than 50 percent of India's population defecates in the open - due to widespread poor sanitation. The government wants to tackle the problem by building 100,000 bio-digester toilets.

Deutsche Welle, 23 June 2014

India's sanitation statistics stink.

But in the Indian capital, a unique experiment to set up hi-tech bio-digester toilets promises to change the lives of thousands of residents who use open fields for their morning ablutions.

The World Health Organization - and figures from India's own census - suggest the number of people, who are forced to defecate in the open, is as high as 620 million.

That's more than half the population.

Small wonder, then, that during its New Delhi trial the bio-toilet has received such ecstatic praise.

Since it was installed outside a public hospital at the start of June, the bio-toilet has seen a steady stream of users.

Many residents, such as Ram Yadav, a daily wage laborer, are happy with the venture.

"We now have the privacy to use a toilet and do not have to wander into open spaces. There is also running water," says Yadav.

More than basic sanitation

But it's not just about meeting the country's basic sanitation needs and health standards. It is also about public safety.

The bio-digester toilet is about more than health and sanitation - it's about safety too

The lack of toilets in India has meant that women are often left in dangerous situations. Alone the act of having to relieve yourself at night can be dangerous - if you are a woman and have to walk out into open fields in the rural hinterlands.

"This is excellent and very helpful. There should be more of these toilets," says Gita Devi, a New Delhi homemaker.

Renowned architect Raj Rewal, better known for designing iconic exhibition pavilions and structures such as the Parliament library, has partnered in this ambitious project.

"I felt that a large number of people, particularly those living in slums, go and defecate in the open. This is a very serious problem - mainly for the 2.5 million women in the city who have no facility to go to toilets in the morning," Rewal says.

This prototype uses aluminium sandwiched honeycomb panels, with stainless steel veneering for durability. The eco-friendly toilet can be set up anywhere - even where there are no sewer lines.

High altitude innovation

A similar system has been tested successfully at high altitude by army personnel at the Siachen Glacier in Kashmir.

And India's Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) plans to help roll out the bio-toilet program across the country.

"We developed a technology which includes a consortium of psychrophilic bacteria, which was brought from Antarctica, cultured in the laboratory, and which can degrade fecal matter into water, carbon dioxide and methane," says Dr William Selvamurthy, a former scientist at the DRDO. "This is a very, very innovative technology."

Selvamurthy says the bio-toilet has no geographical or climate limitations, and can be installed without the need for large sewerage networks.

If mass-produced, a single unit will cost between 400 to 700 euros

Some have undergone design modifications. For example, to avoid the toilets getting clogged at railway stations, where people might use them to dispose of non-biodegradable plastics, like bottles, a special lid has been constructed.

"The Indian railways have adopted this technology and the existing coaches are being retro-fitted. It will also go to other civilian sectors in a very horizontal spread to a very large cross-section of our society," Selvamurthy says.

Total Sanitation Mission 2020

Architect Raj Rewal hopes the toilets will be set up across the country soon.

"It can go to any city, any small town, and hopefully to small villages if we work hard on the design and economics of the toilets," says Rewal.

The Indian government is keen to fast-track the scheme. Open defecation has serious health implications and is a big economic burden on the country.

Only one state in India, Sikkim, is free of open defecation. Under its Total Sanitation Mission, the government aims to eliminate the problem of open defecation by 2022.

German village generates 321 percent more renewable energy than it needs, earns millions selling it back to national power grid

Natural News, Monday, December 19, 2011 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer

German village of Wildpoldsried generates 321 percent more renewable
energy than it needs

(NaturalNews) Developing a renewable energy system that creates energy independence and even a considerable new source of revenue is not some sort of sci-fi pipe dream. BioCycle reports that the German village of Wildpoldsried, population 2,600, has had such incredible success in building its renewable energy system. Wildpoldsried generates 321 percent more renewable energy than it uses, and it now sells the excess back to the national power grid for roughly $5.7 million in additional revenue every single year.

By utilizing a unique combination of solar panels, "biogas" generators, natural wastewater treatment plants, and wind turbines, Wildpoldsried has effectively eliminated its need to be attached to a centralized power grid, and created a thriving renewable energy sector in the town that is self-sustaining and abundantly beneficial for the local economy, the environment, and the public.

You can view some amazing pictures of the Wildpoldsried village at: (http://inhabitat.com/german-village-produces-321-more-energy-than-it-needs/wildpoldsried-germany).

Possessing admirable vision for the town and strong motivation to see the project as a whole succeed, Mayor Arno Zengerie has led the way for many years in making Wildpoldsried's energy independence efforts a success. As far back as 1997, the village has been investing in building and promoting new industries, maintaining a strong local economy, generating new forms of revenue, and ultimately staying out of debt. And the best way it saw fit to accomplish much of this was through the implementation of self-sustaining, renewable energy technologies.

Not only did Wildpoldsried successfully reduce the amount of time expected to generate the necessary funds to build local treasures like a sports hall, theater stage, pub, and retirement home with the revenue generated by its thriving renewable energy sector -- the village has already successfully built nine community buildings, with more on the way -- but it also achieved all this and more without going into debt.

"We often spend a lot of time talking to our visitors about how to motivate the village council (and Mayor) to start thinking differently," said Mayor Zengerle, who now gives talks around the world about the successes of his award-winning village. "We show them a best practices model in motion and many see the benefits immediately. From the tour we give, our guests understand how well things can operate when you have the enthusiasm and conviction of the people.

Be sure to read the full, inspiring account of Wildpoldsried's history of, and successes in, renewable energy at: (http://www.jgpress.com/archives/_free/002409.html).

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Carrots in the car park. Radishes on the roundabout. The deliciously eccentric story ofthe town growing ALL its own veg

Durban? What a waste of time!

  (Photo: RNW)

Energy-efficient stoves clear Pakistan’s air

RNW, 24 June 2011, by Johan van Slooten

(Photo by AKPBS)

Families in northern Pakistan’s Hindu Kush mountains – subjected to long, harsh winters – have found a better way to heat their homes and cook their meals: A new, simple but efficient cooking stove. It rids the homes of deadly fumes, reduces respiratory illness and even cuts deforestation.

It wasn't long ago that the people in the region were heating their homes with simple wood fires, filling the homes with almost permanent clouds of smoke.

“Later they began to use simple stoves, but they weren’t very efficient either,” says Hadi Hosseini of Pakistan’s Aga Khan Planning and Building Service (AKPBS), a division of the Aga Khan Development Network which aims to improve the lives of people in rural Pakistan.

Illnesses

“You simply couldn’t see across the room because of the smoke. People just didn’t know how to channel the smoke out. This lead to many respiratory illnesses among villagers, especially children, including cancer and asthma. Something had to be done.”

After seeing similar situations in Nepal, the AKPBS designed a new cooking stove. It contains two main elements – one to cook meals on and one to heat the room. It can also be connected to a water tank to heat and cook water faster than was previously possible.

Cold winters

“Women used to go down to the rivers to do their laundry,” says AKPBS’s Qayum Ali Shah, who comes from the region. “Especially during the cold winters, this was particularly dangerous, as they had to bring their young children with them."

"You can imagine what it was like to do your laundry in ice cold circumstances with a baby in tow. The women don’t have to do that anymore. They can now simply wash their clothes at home, using the heated water.”

The improvements also included a heat-efficient chimney and an opening in the roof which can be opened or closed to control airflow.

Traditions

While the design and the benefits of the cooking stove seem obvious, it took AKPBS a while to convince the people to actually use it. “This is a very traditional population,” says Mr Hosseini. “Traditions, even domestic ones, go back centuries. To change them, you have to convince people that the new techniques will improve their lives.”

Mr Hosseini and Mr Shah achieved that by simply travelling around the region, demonstrating the stoves' benefits.

“We’ve engaged the women, we’re working with local entrepreneurs, and we’ve been at roadshows. And the people that we managed to convince have subsequently come along with us to tell others. It’s been a word of mouth promotion.”

Benefits

The benefits of the project go beyond the domestic improvements in people’s homes, Mr Hosseini notes.

“People use wood as fuel. Communities were gathering wood three to four times a week, which lead to massive deforestation in the region, which ultimately leads to a high risk of flooding. Using our stove, people have reduced their fuel wood consumption by 50 to 60 percent. So this simple stove is helping to improve their lives AND the environment.”

It’s this element that was noticed by the prestigious Ashden Awards in the UK, which gives an annual award to small scale sustainable energy projects. The AKPBS received an award earlier this month for improving homes and cutting the use of wood for fuel.

Recognition

“It’s good to get this recognition,” says Mr Hosseini. “We go in with a multi-input program: health, education, rural development. The people there are getting a whole package of improvements. That's not delivered by many stand-alone organizations who only focus on one thing. I think that’s our benefit.”

“We’re offering simple and effective solutions which could also be used elsewhere, even in Western homes. Why not take a step back in our electronic and manufactured approach of cooking? People everywhere could learn a lot from these things.”

Jakarta struggles to make green buildings

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 09/16/2010 9:29 AM

A green Jakarta is still a distant dream — but builders and NGOs are promoting environmentally aware construction in the city.

Several ongoing green construction projects and the Green Building Council Indonesia (GBCI) recently launched the Greenship “green” rating system to assess new buildings.

One example, the Austrian Embassy’s construction project on Jl. Diponegoro in Central Jakarta, is a pilot project for state housing development company PT Pembangunan Perumahan’s (PP) Green Contractor program.

“We applied a ‘green way’ from the start of the project. It’s not only the building which will have green technology, but the construction process will also be green,” said Joko Nugroho, the project’s site engineering manager, recently.

“We want anyone on the site to obey certain rules to save energy,” Joko said.

The construction site is full of banners and signs promoting safety — as well as water and electricity conservation.

In front of the site’s temporary field office there are many potted plants.

“We bring them here to make the site cooler and greener,” an official said, adding that engineers had not cut down trees on the site.

Joko said workers were encouraged to bike to the site from the temporary office on Jl. Bonang. “It’s only two blocks away, so I advise them to use bicycles,” he said.

He added that workers had been issued aluminium flasks for personal water use instead of plastic cups to minimize trash.

“To prevent the waste of liquid concrete, we provide many molds which are used to create concrete in a small, regular block-shape,” he said, adding that the molds could be used for other purposes.

Joko said the office has a 1-squaremeter biopore that absorbs excess water to prevent street flooding, an adequate garbage management system and automatic light switches and faucets.

“We also have a green procedures checklist which adheres to GBCI’s standards for efficient electricity and water use and for monitoring green requirements for items such as water flasks, bicycles and potted plants, Joko said.

“We shipped most of the materials, such as windows, from Germany. We also cooperated with other green operators,” he said, adding that the building should be finished by February.

GBCI ratings and technology chief Rana Yusuf Nasir said that its Greenship certificate covered six areas: energy use, water use, site management — which included garbage and liquid waste — and material, indoor air quality and environmental management.

“Until now, no building in the city has obtained the certificate,” Rana said in an email.

Pelita Harapan University architecture lecturer Elisa Sutanudjaja said that buildings made from materials transported on fossil-fueled ships could not be considered environmentally friendly.

“We need to breakdown the materials and the methods used to obtain them,” she said, adding that Indonesia does not have high-tech technology needed to make green materials.

“There are many definitions of green and sustainable building concepts.

“Some use high-tech materials, but I prefer simple, tropical building concepts for Jakarta,” Elisa said.

Plants, ventilation and lighting systems that maximize the use of sunlight are suited to Jakarta, she said.

“Many buildings waste a lot of energy,” Elisa added. (ipa)

Solar lamp wins award for helping developing countries

BBC News, Friday, 2 July 2010 11:59 UK

The developers of a solar lamp that aims to replace kerosene-burning lights in developing countries have won a prestigious environmental award.

Indoor air pollution by Kerosene

fumes kills 1.5m people per year

D Light Design says its lanterns, which sell for around $10 (£7), contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions.

One of the runners-up for the Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy was the Rural Energy Foundation (REF) for promoting solar energy in Africa.

More than 70% of sub-Saharan Africa has no access to electricity.

D Light takes home the £40,000 ($61,000) Gold Award, for "its passion and dedication to the cause of ridding the developing world of the health and pollution problems associated with the use of kerosene lighting", the judges said.

The company, set up by Indian entrepreneurs, says indoor air pollution by Kerosene fumes kills 1.5m people per year.

One of the entrepreneurs said: "This will do to kerosene what mobile phones did to letters."

"The judges were particularly impressed with their highly effective marketing strategy which has put solar lighting within reach of over a million people in 32 countries with significant potential for further expansion," the Ashden Awards said in a statement.

According to the awards body, in three years REF has helped 300,000 people in nine Africa countries gain access to solar energy.

Second-generation biofuel takes off in the Netherlands

Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 25 June 2010 - 10:37am | By Rob Kievit

(Photo: NOS TV screenshot)

The world's biggest facility for biomethanol production opened in the Dutch city of Delfzijl on Thursday.

It is hoped that increased use of biofuels will reduce CO2 emission from car engines. The biomass used to make the second generation biofuels is no longer based on food crops but on organic waste, removing one of the main objections to the use of biofuels.

It's in your car

Few European drivers are probably aware that they are already burning biofuels. Up to four percent of normal petrol is biofuel, in accordance with an EU directive which came into force in 2005. The proportion will be stepped up to ten percent by 2020. The biofuel does not adversely affect the engine's performance. One biofuel is methanol, a colourless alcohol-like liquid described in chemical terms as CH3OH.

Dutch plant opens

Biofuel company BioMCN converted an old chemical plant, formerly owned by Dutch chemical giant DSM, into a production facility for biomethanol, which is suitable for mixing with traditional petrol and diesel fuel. Producing 250 million litres of methanol per year, it is claimed to be the largest such plant in the world. It opened on Thursday.

"There is a lot of demand, particularly because the fuel we make is produced sustainably," the company's director, Rob Voncken, told NOS TV. BioMCN is supplying a number of major oil companies, and Mr Voncken says he expects to be able to sell as much fuel as the plant can produce. Conveniently situated in the northern seaport city of Delfzijl, the produce can be shipped directly from the factory area to customers.

Peanut butter

The raw material for the process consists of organic waste, left after the manufacture of products such as soap and peanut butter. This contributes significantly to the biofuel's sustainability.

Energy researcher Sascha Kersten of Twente University explains that the Netherlands is well-placed for the biofuels industry: "The Netherlands has a big seaport [Rotterdam] which facilitates the import of the raw materials. We're good at refineries, we're good at logistics. These factors increase our chances of success in the biofuel market of the future."

Related Article:

Kiss the Grid Goodbye: Power Your Home with a Bloom Box!

Kiss the Grid Goodbye: Power Your Home with a Bloom Box!

Greenopolis

Fuel cells have been a tantilizing technolgy for decades - powering space vehicles, but always a little out of reach for domestic or commercial use. I worked with Greenopolis Partner Plug Power for years - working to provide clean on site energy from hydrogen powered fuel cells. Now there’s the Bloom Box.

That’s not a typo for a new carry-on-your shoulder stereo system. The Bloom Box is a refrigerator-sized box that can power your whole house, store or business.

Bloom Energy is a venture capital funded firm that builds the “Bloom Box”- an appliance sized unit that houses fuel cells running on natural gas, landfill gas, bio-gas or solar power. Fuel cells combine hydrogen with oxygen and emit only heat, electricity and distilled water.

Google has been powering a datacenter with 4 Bloom Boxes running on natural gas for the past year and a half. eBay has 5 of them in San Jose, which they claim have saved them $100,000 in energy costs over the past 9 months.

The Bloom Box debuted on CBS’ 60 Minutes last night.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Is the fuel cell promise finally coming true? Is there a box in your future? Stay tuned, and keep your ear glued to the Bloom Box.

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New green rating system set to improve buildings

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 02/01/2010 11:29 AM

Eight major property developers in Greater Jakarta are hoping to obtain green building certification for newly built properties, a member of Green Building Council Indonesia (GBCI) says.

“They want us to certify the new properties they have just built before selling them,” Tiyok Prasetyoadi, one of the founders of the council, said in Jakarta at a recent seminar on green buildings.

The eight are Agung Podomoro Group, Springhill Group, Ciputra Group, BSD City, Intiland Development, Summarecon, Agung Sedayu and Pikko Group. Tiyok also mentioned that another company, Artha Debang, located in Medan, North Sumatra, was also hoping to obtain certification.

The certification would increase the value of the properties, he said.

“A green building provides a positive image of its owner and developer. It expends less energy and uses materials with better durability. These things can all increase the market value of properties,” he said.

The council is currently developing an official rating system for the assessment of green buildings, which it hopes to finalize by March or early April this year.

Under the greenship rating system, buildings are assessed based on six criteria: the appropriateness

of site development; energy effi-ciency and refrigerants; water conservation; indoor air health and comfort; and building environment management.

Tiyok said that so far he had not found any office building in Jakarta that fulfilled all of the criteria.

“Most office buildings in the city are not designed to save energy and preserve water. However, these buildings can still gain marks in our rating system if the building management are willing to educate their employees and tenants,” he said.

Environment Ministry nature conservation deputy director Masnellyarti Hilman said the government would support the system.

“The government is still providing subsidies for water and electricity. However, because of budget constraints and the depletion of our coal and oil in the following years, I believe these subsidies will no longer be provided,” she said.

Previously the council had said that making green buildings required an increase in investment of between 6 and 7 percent, on average. However, this investment was expected to pay for itself within three years. (mrs)

Japanese tech for cleaner RI slaughterhouses

Adianto P. Simamora , The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 01/29/2010 10:25 AM

The government of Japan has offered a co-benefit cooperation to develop eco-friendly slaughterhouses and landfills to cope with climate change and pollution in Indonesia.

Japan would provide technology to capture emissions from slaughterhouses and landfills in Indonesia and alter them as energy sources to generate electricity for citizens.

“But the total emission cuts from projects belong to Indonesia,” Tuty Hendrawaty, deputy assistance on pollution control from the agro industry sector at the State Environment Ministry told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

She said that pilot projects would be in slaughterhouses in Palembang, South Sumatra and the landfill in Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan.

“Experts from Japan and Indonesia have conducted feasibility studies on the planned projects,” she said.

The governments of Indonesia and Japan organized a two-day workshop on co-benefit cooperation in Jakarta on Thursday, attended by officials from several provinces.

Slaughterhouses and landfills are among the major sources of water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, especially in developing countries due to poor management.

Untreated wastewater often flows into rivers, which are the main sources of clean water for the public.

Slaughterhouses and landfills also carry diseases that can be transferred to humans, while wastewater generates methane gas.

Methane is reported as far more dangerous to the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

The Japanese government launched the “Cool Earth 50” initiative in 2007 to establish a global warming management framework with the long-term target of halving greenhouse gas emissions until 2050.

Japan and Indonesia signed a joint statement on environmental protection through the co-benefit approach in 2007, including the implementation of the 3R (reduce, reuse and recycle).

Since then, Indonesia produced massive campaigns on the 3R concept to reduce the size of landfills.

Data from the State Environment Ministry shows more than 60 percent out of the 170 surveyed cities in 2008 relied on poorly managed landfills.

It said that many cities only disposed around 65 percent of daily waste at the final disposal site with the remaining illegally dumped in rivers or at parks and were illegally burned.

The report said Indonesia produced a large amount of methane gas from garbage.

Producing around 45 million cubic meters of garbage annually, mostly from metropolitan cities, Indonesia may be producing around 520,000 tons of methane, the report said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has promised to cut 26 percent of emissions by 2020, of which about 6 percent of emission reduction would be from the waste sector.

PU office to set example in green certification

Prodita Sabarini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 01/19/2010 11:04 AM

The planned new Public Works Ministry office on Jl. Pattimura in South Jakarta will be the first building in Indonesia to be certified by the Green Building Council of Indonesia and will at least achieve a gold ranking for design, an organization director says.

Green Building Council of Indonesia (GBCI) director of rating and technology Rana Yusuf Nasir said that the new building was the council’s pilot project for green building.

Planners designed the building site plan to include zero rainwater run off. It will also have a water recycling and treatment system with 83 percent water consumption. It will include an efficient energy system that will save energy consumption by up to 30 percent, with a target of 200 kilowatt-hours per square meter each year.

According to the GBCI, the average office usage in Jakarta currently stands at 250 kilowatt-hours per square meter per year.

Rana presented the building designs recently as a case study for businesses with interests in the green building sector.

The GBCI also launched its framework for a “greenship” rating system. The council plans to launch its official rating system for newly constructed buildings in March or early April. The council will prepare a rating system for existing buildings next week.

Rana said that the greenship rating will have four rankings — bronze, silver, gold and, the highest, platinum. A building receives bronze certification if it fulfills at least 35 percent of the total points needed; at least 46 percent for silver, gold 57 percent and platinum 73 percent.

He said that looking at the current planning of the building, it would at least be given gold certification.

Consulting company PT Jakarta Konsultindo is the building’s planning consultant. Director of Jakarta Konsultindo Maryanti Kusuma Masmara said that it was in the planning process.

“The construction will begin around this year,” she said.

The GBCI scrutinized several aspects of the building plan, according to its rating system framework.

Rana said that the organization examined the planned building’s appropriate site development, energy efficiency and refrigerant, water conservation, material resources and cycle as well as indoor air health and building environment management.

The planned building would gain points due to its accessibility to public transport. The plan also included a bicycle rack, and bathroom and changing room facilities. The building will be energy efficient utilizing natural daylight and an average air-conditioning temperature of 25 degrees Celsius.

The plan for the ministry building has fulfilled 66 percent of the total points needed.

Rana said that it was possible to achieve an even higher rank. “It is possible to be more energy efficient,” he said.

Office building and mall operators at the seminar said they were positive about the upcoming rating system from the GBCI.

“Without the rating system, we will be left behind other countries. We have to implement it fast,” Grand Indonesia Shopping Town engineering and maintenance senior manager Slamet Ristono.

GBCI chairwoman Naning S. Adiningsih Adiwoso said that the demand for green buildings was high in Jakarta.

Handle with care

The Jakarta Post, Mon, 12/21/2009 4:19 PM | Business

A technician repairs a solar-powered generator belonging to PT Tower Bersama Infrastructure in Riau. The firm uses the generator as an alternative device to supply electricity to telecommunication operators in the province. (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)

World’s Largest Solar Energy Office Building Opens in China

Inhabitat, by Yuka Yoneda, 12/14/09

A vast fan-shaped compound in China has officially taken the title of “largest solar-powered office building in the world“. Located in Dezhou in the Shangdong Province in northwest China, the 75,000 square meter structure is a multi-use building and features exhibition centers, scientific research facilities, meeting and training facilities, and a hotel – all of which run on solar power.

The design of the new building is based on the sun dial and “underlines the urgency of seeking renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels.” Aside from the obvious sustainable nature of the solar panel – clad exterior, other green features include advanced roof and wall insulation practices resulting in an energy savings of 30% more than the national standard. In addition, the external structure of the building used a mere 1% of the amount of steel used to construct the Bird’s Nest.

The solar-powered building will be the main venue for the 4th World Solar City Congress.

RI sits on 28,000 MW of geothermal resources

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 12/03/2009 8:24 PM

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Darwin Zahedy Saleh said Indonesia was blessed with geothermal energy resources of up to 28,000 megawatts with a potential power generating capacity of 13,440 MW.

"We also have reserves reaching 14,473 MW, which are scattered in 265 places across Indonesia," Darwin told Antara state news agency at the opening of a seminar themed "Acceleration of Geothermal Development to Support the Second 10,000 MW Power Project" in Bali on Thursday.

He said only 4 percent of the existing geothermal potential or 1,189 MW was being used to generate electricity.

"The plant with the biggest designed capacity is located in West Java, namely 1,057 MW or 20 percent of the reserves, Central Java 60 MW, North Sulawesi 60 MW and North Sumatra 12 MW," Saleh said.

He said in accordance with the law, the government had designated 22 geothermal work mining sites (WKP), eight in Sumatra, seven in Java, two in Sulawesi, three in Nusa Tenggara and the remaining two in Maluku.

Bali is expected to host the World Geothermal Congress on April 25-30, 2010. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is slated to open the event.

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President orders solar energy development

Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 09/01/2009 5:33 PM

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered that development into solar-cell energy be explored in Indonesia.

Managing director of state-owned solar cell producer PT LEN Industri, Wahyuddin Bagenda, said following a meeting with SBY in Jakarta on Tuesday that the President supported moves for increasing the production of efficient solar-cell energies.

“... And he [SBY] is hoping that the price will be reasonable for the public. That was the most important issue.” Wahyuddin said in a press conference at the Presidential Office.

He said LEN could install solar cells with a capacity of 6 Megawatts, and could offer this renewable energy at US$3 per watt.

Wahyuddin said this capacity fell short of the government’s actual annual requirement of 10 MW.

“Based on our analysis, if we increase the installed capacity to 50 MW, we’ll be able to sell the solar cells at $1.2 per watt. The global price currently stands at around $1.7 per watt,” he said.

The Bandung-based firm will need around $17 million worth of investment to develop the 50-MW power plant, he said.