Sunseap signs MOU with BP Batam to build world's largest floating solar farm and energy storage system
July 21, 2021
Sunseap Group and Badan Pengusahaan Batam (BP Batam) have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the building of a floating
photovoltaic system (FPV) and energy storage system (ESS) on a
reservoir in Indonesia's Batam Island. The project is estimated to
be around US$2 billion.
Under the MOU, Sunseap will develop a FPV and ESS on Duriangkang
Reservoir in the south of Batam Island. The FPV is projected to have
a capacity of 2.2 GWp and span around 1600 hectares, making it the
largest FPV in the world to-date. The ESS is also slated to be the
largest ESS with a storage capacity of larger than 4000
MWhr.
Duriangkang Reservoir is the largest reservoir in Batam and was
originally a saltwater bay. With a volume of 101.2 million m3, the
Duriangkang Reservoir supports more than 50% of fresh water supply
to Batam Island. The floating solar panels will be beneficial to
reducing the evaporation, thereby retaining more water within the
reservoir. Simultaneously, the water will also keep the solar panel
cool allowing the panel to generate more clean energy, creating a
synergistic relationship.
Sunseap expects the solar farm to generate more than 2,600 GWh of
electricity per annum, potentially offsetting more than 1.8 million
metric tons of carbon per year. This is equivalent to taking more
than 400,000 cars off the road each year.
Sunseap is also planning to setup a Sunseap Academy in Batam, which
will see to the hiring and skills sets transfer to more than 3000
locals who will be involved in building the world largest FPV and
ESS.
Frank Phuan, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sunseap,
said: "We are honoured to be given the opportunity to partner BP
Batam in helping to promote sustainable development in the region,
and to bring affordable and stable clean energy to Batam and
beyond.
"This hyperscale project is a significant milestone for Sunseap
coming soon after we had completed Singapore's first offshore
floating solar farm along the Straits of Johor. We believe that
floating solar systems will go a long way to address the land
constraints that urbanised parts of Southeast Asia face in tapping
renewable energy."
Mr Phuan also expressed his gratitude and thanks to various
officials for their advice and support in helping Sunseap realise
this important project. They are namely Indonesia Coordinating
Minister for Economic Affairs Bapak Airlangga Hartato, Indonesia
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Bapak
Luhut Pandjaitan, Chairman BP Batam and Major of City of Batam Bapak
Muhammad Rudi, and all their supporting deputies and staff.
Sunseap said the energy generated and stored will supply
non-intermittent solar energy 24/7. A portion of the green energy
will be consumed within Batam while the balance can potentially be
exported to Singapore approximately 50km away via a subsea
cable.
Muhammad Rudi, Chairman of BP Batam, said: "This investment by
Sunseap will be a timely boost for Batam's industries as they seek
to reduce the carbon footprint of their operations. At the same
time, it will create jobs and transfer skills to Batam's clean
energy sector."
The project will be financed through a mixture of bank borrowings
and internal resources. Construction is slated to begin in 2022 and
plan to be completed in 2024.
About Sunseap Group
Sunseap Group is a solar energy system developer, owner and operator
in Singapore, with over 2000 MegaWatt-peak (MWp) of solar energy
projects contracted across Asia, on more than 3000 buildings in
Singapore, including public housing estates, as well as commercial
and industrial buildings.
Sunseap Group also operates in various countries in Southeast Asia,
including Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand and
Malaysia.
Media Contacts
Sunseap Group Pte Ltd
Rob Khoo
Email: corpcomms@sunseap.com
Catherine Ong Associates
Catherine Ong
Tel: +65 9697 0007
Email: cath@catherineong.com