Since the net metering scheme for rooftop PLTS (solar power plants) was abolished through Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation Number 2 of 2024, the way solar panels are installed has changed. Excess production during the day can no longer be stored in the PLN grid to be drawn back at night. Energy that is not used immediately and has already been exported practically loses its value. As a result, installing a large on-grid system is no longer automatically profitable, and attention has shifted to how solar electricity can truly be used independently.
This is where hybrid systems become relevant. Unlike pure on-grid systems that rely entirely on the grid, and off-grid systems that are disconnected from it, hybrid systems combine solar panels, battery storage, and grid connection. This topology allows the system to continue supplying critical loads during grid outages while storing daytime surplus for nighttime use. For business areas or locations prone to outages, supply reliability is often as important as bill savings. The panels cover daytime needs, batteries hold supply during the night or outages, and the grid serves as a last resort.
However, that reliability does not come from simply adding batteries. It is the result of engineering calculations.
Factors Determining Hybrid System Reliability
Load profile. How much power needs to remain on during a grid outage, and for how long? This answer determines the capacity of the batteries and inverter, not the other way around.
Battery and panel sizing. A capacity that is too small causes the system to run out quickly at night; one that is too large wastes costs. The optimal point depends on actual consumption patterns, not general figures.
Simulation before construction. Tools like PVSyst allow designers to test various configurations against local climate data, estimate annual production, and see when the system will lack or have excess energy, long before a single panel is installed.
Economic analysis. After net metering was removed, project feasibility is measured by how much energy is truly consumed independently and how long the investment takes to pay back, rather than assumptions of exporting to the grid.
Engineering First, Then Purchasing
The abolition of net metering is not the end of PLTS, but a reminder that installing solar panels is both an engineering and financial decision. A system designed with careful calculations, from load profiles, sizing, simulations, to economic analysis, is far more resilient to regulatory changes and provides the reliability that users truly need. Choosing hybrid, on-grid, or off-grid is not about which package is the cheapest, but rather which configuration best suits the needs and conditions on the ground.
Sources
- Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation Number 2 of 2024 on the Utilization of Rooftop Solar Power Plants
- "Recognize 3 Differences Between On-Grid, Off-Grid, and Hybrid Solar Power Systems for Homes and Businesses", zonaebt.com
- "Design and Control of PV Hybrid System", drive.esdm.go.id
- After Exports No Longer Reduce Bills, Rooftop Solar Power Plant (PLTS) Size is Determined by Daytime Load
- After Net Metering is Removed: On-Grid or Off-Grid Solar Power Systems (PLTS) for Homes and Offices?
- Simulation Before Construction: Why PVSyst and Feasibility Analysis Determine the Fate of Hybrid Solar Power Plant (PLTS) Projects