Indonesia is charting a bold path toward renewable energy, aiming to significantly boost its solar, hydro, and geothermal power capacities. The government plans to construct 17 gigawatts (GW) of solar power, complemented by supporting battery systems, alongside 16 GW of hydro power and 5 GW of geothermal power. These initiatives are part of the country's new electricity supply plan, currently being discussed with the state utility Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN). Known locally as RUPTL, this plan will replace the previous 2021-2030 RUPTL, marking a substantial shift towards renewable sources.
The focus on renewables is evident as 70% of the anticipated 71 GW additional capacity will come from clean energy sources. This strategic pivot is expected to elevate the renewable energy mix from approximately 12% to around 35% by 2034. Deputy State Owned Enterprise Minister Kartika Wirjoatmodjo emphasized this significant increase in the renewable energy share.
"This will increase the mix of renewable energy from around 12 per cent to around 35 per cent in 2034," – Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, deputy State Owned Enterprise Minister
The previous plan targeted an addition of 40.6 GW of new capacity, with about 52% derived from renewable energy. The updated plan builds on this foundation with a more aggressive push towards sustainable sources. In addition to renewables, Indonesia plans to develop 15 GW of gas power capacity by 2034, primarily to support the base load capacity for Java.
Despite the shift to renewables, Indonesia will continue some coal projects planned under the previous framework. Although new coal power plant development was banned in 2022, around 5 GW of coal capacity is still expected to come online by 2034 from existing projects.
"We will still continue some of the remaining projects on coal, but this is just closing up on the previous plan," – Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, deputy State Owned Enterprise Minister
This comprehensive plan underscores Indonesia's commitment to enhancing its energy landscape through renewable sources. By building more solar, hydro, and geothermal capacity, the government aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and transition to a more sustainable energy future.
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