Exploring Renewable Energy Solutions for Indonesia's New Capital: A PVsyst Analysis for the Construction of a Floating PV System on Merdeka Reservoir Balikpapan

Indonesia, blessed with abundant solar resources and its unique archipelagic nature, presents significant potential for renewable energy, notably solar power. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of a proposed Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) system on Balikpapan's Merdeka Reservoir in Kalimantan. It covers technical, financial, and environmental aspects of the project, taking advantage of the region's average of 12 daily hours of sunshine, which provides an optimal environment for solar energy generation. Employing PV syst software, we model the FPV system's performance, factoring in regional solar irradiance and reservoir characteristics. Our findings reveal that the FPV system at Merdeka Reservoir delivers valuable insights into its overall performance, achieving an average normalized production of 4.13 kWh/kWp/day. The system encounters various losses, including array soiling, thermal factors, and DC wiring losses. Despite these challenges, financial analysis demonstrates promising economic viability, with a Net Present Value (NPV) of 67.83 trillion IDR and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 13.30%. The projected payback period stands at 9.1 years, indicating a relatively swift return on investment. Additionally, environmental assessment highlights the FPV system's substantial contribution to CO
2
emissions reduction, with a total savings of 180,556 tons over its lifetime. This research enriches our understanding of renewable energy solutions for Indonesia's new capital and aligns with the nation's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions (NZE) by 2060.