Lecture Notes: Energy Development in Sumba, Indonesia

Introduction to Sumba

• Location: Eastern Indonesia
• Cultural Distinctions:
  • Unique burial traditions
  • Animist religions
  • Unique language
• Shared Issues with Isolated Regions:
  • Poverty
  • High infant mortality
  • Diseases like malaria
  • Limited access to electricity

Energy Challenges in Sumba

• Population: 650,000 islanders
• Electricity Access:
  • Nearly half the population lacks access
  • Reliance on kerosene and wood fires
  • Issues: Expensive, unsafe, unhealthy

Renewable Energy Potential

• Abundance of renewable resources:
  • Solar
  • Biomass
  • Potential for hydropower
  • Wind energy

Renewable Energy Initiative

• Key Participants:
  • Dutch NGO Hevos
  • Indonesian government
  • Development partners
  • Private sector
  • Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Objective: Extend electricity using 100% renewable energy
• Goal: Turn Sumba into an iconic clean energy island

Progress and Implementation

• Wipatando Village Project:
  • Small-scale solar project
  • Government-sponsored
  • Benefits: Power to 36 houses
  • Cost: Small monthly fee, lower than kerosene costs
  • Impact:
    • Improved quality of life
    • Ability to work and study after dark
    • Access to television

ADB's Role and Support

• Engagement: Joined in 2013
• Financial Support:
  • Initial grant: $1 million
  • Increased with Norway's grant: $2 million
• Purpose: Scale-up renewable energy access in Sumba and other areas of eastern Indonesia
• Vision: Leverage the model for replication across other geographies

Importance of the Sumba Energy Experiment

• Potential Impact:
  • Successful implementation could be a model for cost-effective energy access
  • Broader application to other poor, isolated communities in Indonesia and potentially worldwide.