One of the world’s largest floating solar farms is to be built in Indonesia by Abu Dhabi-based renewables developer Masdar and Indonesian state electricity company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN).

The 145MW plant — Masdar’s first floating PV project and its first foray into Southeast Asia — will be installed on the Cirata reservoir in West Java, about 100km southeast of the capital, Jakarta.

“The Cirata floating PV project is a monumental renewable-energy project for Indonesia, and the biggest floating PV [project] in Southeast Asia,” said PLN boss Zulkifli Zaini. “It will improve the capability of the Java-Bali power system and also increase the renewable energy mix in Indonesia.

“The potential of similar projects is endless and we anticipate construction should begin soon, aiming for commercial operation in 2022.”

Masdar chairman Sultan bin Ahmad Al Jaber, who is also minister of state of the United Arab Emirates, added: “Leveraging innovative solutions such as this floating solar PV project will be critical to the nation [Indonesia] achieving its renewable targets and to supporting its sustainable growth.”