AVIRAMA Foundation has successfully commissioned an off-grid Solar PV system paired with battery storage at Menjangan Island’s Ranger Post, replacing noisy, polluting diesel generators to deliver 24/7 clean energy, enhance ranger welfare and maritime security, and eliminate carbon emissions in West Bali National Park.
Marking a major milestone for Indonesian conservation, AVIRAMA Foundation through Solar Horizon Menjangan programme deployed an off-grid Solar PV system on Menjangan Island to eliminate diesel dependency and supply continuous green power. Paired with a 12 kWh LiFePO4 battery energy storage system, the 5.5 kWp Solar PV installation transitions the remote outpost within West Bali National Park (TNBB) from noisy generators to zero-emission infrastructure. The project was implemented under the Youth4Climate 2025 program, co-led by the UNDP Rome Centre and the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security.
Replacing Fuel Generators with Off-Grid Solar PV Solutions
The implementation of an off-grid Solar PV array resolves longstanding ecological and operational burdens on Menjangan Island, where rangers previously relied on fossil fuels for nighttime electricity. Before the system was installed, TNBB Ranger I Komang Suartawan explained that running a generator for 24 hours required up to 20 liters of fuel daily, which forced the team to restrict electricity exclusively to nighttime hours due to high procurement costs and logistics. If the fuel ran out unexpectedly, the post lost all power until rangers could cross back to the main island or wait for their next shift change. Beyond fuel expenses, fellow ranger Afdha Kharis highlighted that the continuous noise pollution severely disrupted native wildlife, disturbing the sleeping patterns of endemic barking deer (Menjangan) and shifting their natural habitat away from the ranger post, while also disturbing bat populations inhabiting the island’s karst caves.
Navigating Remote Island Logistics
Executing a remote Solar PV installation presented unique logistical challenges during the deployment phase from July 20–25, 2026. According to Pak Catur, an installation technician from Batari Energy, transporting heavy mounting structures, battery banks, and solar panels from Labuan Lalang Port required navigating extreme heat and limited equipment on the island. Any missing component meant hours of sea travel back to the mainland and driving to Singaraja or Denpasar. The technical team also had to carefully schedule construction around peak tourist visitation hours and exercise extra caution so as not to disturb the local deer roaming near the installation site. Despite these constraints, the Solar PV deployment was successfully completed through collaborative efforts involving TNBB staff, park rangers, AVIRAMA Foundation technical personnel, local tour guides, and visiting tourists.
Measurable Environmental Impact
With the off-grid Solar PV infrastructure fully operational, the Menjangan Island Ranger Post now functions entirely independent of fossil fuels. Key measurable benefits of the project include:
- 100% Operational Emission Mitigation: Eliminates approximately 804 kg of CO2 emissions per month caused by diesel generator.
- Noise Reduction: Drops operational noise levels and restoring natural habitat conditions for wildlife.
- Enhanced Maritime Patrols & Safety: Delivers continuous light for the jetty and post, eliminating nighttime security blind spots to prevent illegal poaching and fishing.
- Improved Ranger Welfare: Guarantees uninterrupted power for food refrigeration, mobile charging, and administrative duties during 4-day ranger shifts.
Scaling Solar PV Technology for National Decarbonization
The successful integration of Solar PV technology at Menjangan Island establishes a replicable “Green Blueprint” for sustainable development in remote protected zones, aligning with the Bali Net Zero Emission 2045 framework. Reflecting on the project’s inception, AVIRAMA Foundation Founder and Director Gede Herry Arum Wijaya noted that using polluting and noisy equipment inside a protected conservation zone undermines the core mission of environmental protection. He emphasized that this Solar PV installation delivers the necessary foundation for ranger safety and welfare while serving as a proven model that can be replicated across other remote protected islands throughout Indonesia.
“Solar Horizon Menjangan is more than a power installation — it is a proven green blueprint that proves zero-emission technology can safeguard wildlife while protecting the rangers who serve on the front lines of conservation.” – AVIRAMA Foundation
Join the Movement for Remote Clean Energy Transition
The completion of the Solar Horizon Menjangan project marks the start of a broader transformation across Indonesia’s protected areas. AVIRAMA Foundation invites government agencies, conservation partners, eco-tourism leaders, and clean energy supporters to help replicate this sustainable off-grid model in other remote and underserved destinations.