Potency of Solar Energy Applications in Indonesia

Abstract

Currently, 80% of conventional energy is used to fulfill general public's needs and industries. The depletion of oil and gas reserves and rapid growth in conventional energy consumption have continuously forced us to discover renewable energy sources, like solar, wind, biomass, and hydropower, to support economic development in the future. Solar energy travels at a speed of 186,000 miles per second. Only a small part of the radiant energy that the sun emits into space ever reaches the Earth, but that is more than enough to supply all our energy demand. Indonesia is a tropical country and located in the equator line, so it has an abundant potential of solar energy. Most of Indonesian area get enough intensity of solar radiation with the average daily radiation around 4 kWh/m2. Basically, the solar systems use solar collectors and concentrators for collecting, storing, and using solar radiation to be applied for the benefit of domestics, commercials, and industrials. Common applications for solar thermal energy used in industry are the SWHs, solar dryers, space heating, cooling systems and water desalination.