COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic by WHO, which means that the disease outbreak has spread so widely. Many countries are implementing lockdowns as a way to reduce the spread of this virus, so that human contact is limited. Buildings, office centers, malls, recreation areas, campuses and schools were closed. All work and study activities are transferred to the home.
From an electricity point of view, changing workplaces and reducing activity in the industrial sector will certainly change the load pattern. For example, electricity use in Italy slumped about 7% last week after the government there closed schools and workers were asked to stay at home.
Electricity network operators in Indonesia have actually prepared themselves well to anticipate changes in power demand, maintain system reliability and balance the electricity network. They are constantly monitoring changing load patterns as many offices and business centers shift to using the internet as a medium for working remotely or working from home.
Electricity demand from industrial sectors that have high energy consumption intensity, such as factories, airports and entertainment venues, will be significantly reduced, while in the household sector, medical services such as hospitals and health clinics will increase sharply.
But that is not all that must be prepared, it is time to limit access to power plant control facilities and all strategic energy infrastructure assets, so that the risk of spreading this epidemic does not infect workers who are feared it will disrupt work routines.
Therefore emergency operation procedures must also be carefully prepared considering the function of the electricity system operator is to ensure that the system must work reliably with good power quality, not only in the Java-Bali-Madura system but throughout the archipelago. It can be imagined that if the outbreak spreads and there is disruption to the supply of electrical energy, the situation will be even worse.
The shift in activities from the office to the home also shows that the house is no longer seen as a passive building that is only a place for shelter and rest. But the house can be an active building, namely a place to work, study productively and make it possible to generate their own electricity which can support all these activities.
Renewable energy technologies such as solar panels and batteries are now easy to install at home at affordable prices and have good reliability.
For example, in Europe, since 2016 research projects have been carried out in several houses to serve as models or pilots of houses that are more independent of electricity. This house uses solar panels, batteries and is connected to the electricity network (on grid).
Similar research has also been carried out at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Indonesia, with its dual power house, although the concept is different, the goal is the same, namely to make a house that can generate electricity, store it and use it for its own needs.
Covid-19, has made us realize how important and strategic the function of a house is, especially in times of crisis. Let’s study, work and work independently with electricity from home.
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By:
* Dr.-Ing Eko Adhi Setiawan is a Head of Study Program (Kaprodi) Magister Multidisciplinary Energy Systems Engineering, Fakulty of Enginnering, Universitas Indonesia.
from Hijauku