Indonesia has established a target of having PV electricity in one million homes by 2005. This will require 50 MWp of PV, and is known as the Fifty Megawatt Programme.

In Indonesia, between 20 000 and 30 0000 PV solar home systems are already installed, so there is a lot of experience. The 50 MW-programme is coordinated by the BPPT, the Indonesian Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology.

There are several components to the programme including cooperation projects with Australia, France, Germany and the World Bank, which will provide finance for more than 30 MWp. The World Bank supported project will help PV dealers to sell PV on credit to 200 000 purchasers in Lampung, South Sulawesi and West Java. The project includes a USD 24 million grant from the Global Environment Facility, which will allow a subsidy of an average USD 100 per 50 Wp solar home system. This should open the market and lead to further expansion without subsidy.

The importance of setting and applying standards for the solar systems is well appreciated. The LSDE Energy Technology Laboratory at Puspiptek is to be upgraded to test and certify PV products and components. Task 3 of the IEA  PVPS Programme has provided assistance in defining the specification for the laboratory. The last Task 3 Experts Meeting was also held in Indonesia and included participants from BPPT and the World Bank.

It is confidently expected that the experience in Indonesia will help to develop PV markets in other Asian countries. The World Bank has a number of projects under preparation in other countries. PVPS has offered project assistance through the Channel of the DC team.

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