PGA Krakatau introducing their new BESS and SEAT for power mitigation solution

A long-awaited solution for addressing poor, inadequate electricity that has resulted in significant expenses and reduced productivity for PGA Krakatau.



PGA Krakatau is a volcanic observation post for Anak Krakatau, part of the operational unit of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) under the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). It is responsible for monitoring the activity of the still-active Anak Krakatau volcano.

Stationed in Pasauran Village, Cinangka, Serang Regency, Banten, is in an area where the electricity supply is highly vulnerable to power outages. The area is susceptible to disruptions that cause unstable voltage, including:

  • Fluctuating voltage
  • Power outages & blackouts
  • Power supply interruptions
  • Grounding issues
  • Lightning strikes
These conditions pose a serious threat to electronic devices, sensors, radio communications, and computers in the monitoring system for Anak Krakatau. Damage to equipment due to these conditions has occurred frequently, significantly impacting the monitoring process, given that the PGA Krakatau is located on the coast, which is prone to severe weather conditions and fluctuations in the quality of the electricity supply.

As a solution, PGA Krakatau implements backup power as an alternative power source using Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) technology from Lithium Werk, a battery storage system developed by PT Surya Semesta Cemerlang as a backup power source with a capacity capable of operating the PGA Krakatau system for up to 3 days in the event of an electricity supply interruption or a supply disruption or complete power outage.

Alongside with the BESS system, BEN Engineering also provides surge protection devices; Surge Energy Absorb and Transfer (SEAT). SEAT functions to ward off surge voltages from the main power grid, so that the output voltage from SEAT is safe from potential surge voltages.

SEAT does not only function as a surge protector device (SPD) like most products, but furthermore SEAT also has additional protection features, including:

  • TVSS - Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor
  • LFS - Lightning Flash Surges
  • PSS - Power Switching Surges
  • SIC - Switching Inrush Currents
  • EMP - Electric Magnetic Pulses

The above factors cause electronic devices to have a shorter lifespan due to poor power quality, which has a direct impact on semiconductor components, chips, and other parts in the long run. Furthermore, because surges can affect the performance of electronic devices, they also impact the accuracy of the device's output.

an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure


The implementation of these two systems; BESS and SEAT, is an ideal combination of mitigation solutions for power supply reliability issues, where BESS acts as a backup power and SEAT as voltage protection for all devices in the network. It has been proven that after the installation of BESS and SEAT, PGA Krakatau has no longer faced critical problems during power outages, and electronic devices operate normally and stable.