Buleleng, May 26, 2025 – A thin mist hangs among the lush forest trees, while the morning breeze brings a cold mountain air. The cold mountain atmosphere accompanied the journey of the Bali Energy Exploration Team along the winding road and through the forest to Muara Panji Micro Hydro Power Plant (MHP), Sambangan Village, Sukasada District, Buleleng Regency, Bali, which is 85 km away with a travel time of about 2 hours 47 minutes from Denpasar City. The morning trip was not only refreshing, but also made us realize the importance of sustainable energy sources.
Salim Warisman, Field Manager of PT Panji Muara Raya as the manager, said that since October 2016, Muara Panji MHP is not just a power plant. It is a pioneer. With a capacity of 2 x 700 kiloWatts (kW), this plant is the first and only commercial micro hydro in Bali that utilizes water resources as renewable energy. Muara Panji MHP can be a clear example that energy transition is not impossible, even in areas that rely on the tourism sector as the backbone of the economy.
“Muara Panji MHP utilizes the water flow from Tukad Buleleng. The process starts from a reservoir with a capacity of 850 cubic meters that holds river water. From there, the water flows through a 526-meter long pipe to the centrifuga system. Next, the water passes through a support system and a 1.2-meter long crossing cable, before entering the turbine that will convert water energy into mechanical energy,” Salim explained.
Furthermore, Salim stated that the two generators have a maximum capacity of up to 2,300 kW. The electrical energy generated is then received by a transformer on site to be channeled to the PLN network, to support the electricity needs of north Bali residents.
“However, like all systems that depend on nature, the Muara Panji MHP is not free from challenges. In 2020, an extreme drought caused a drastic drop in water discharge. Electricity production capacity plummeted to only 420 kW, far from its ideal capacity,” Salim said.
Optimism for renewable energy in Bali does not stop at Muara Panji MHP. According to Pintoko Aji, Research Coordinator of the Data and Modeling Group, Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), the results of IESR’s latest study titled Unlocking Indonesia’s Renewables Future show that the potential for hydro energy in Indonesia is still very broad.
“There is at least a total of 82.54 MW in 31 other locations that have the technical potential to follow in the footsteps of the Panji Muara MHP. This potential is a great opportunity to increase the capacity and contribution of renewable energy in Indonesia’s electricity system, which is still quite dependent on fossil energy,” said Pintoko.
