12-11-2024 (JAKARTA) Indonesia has announced plans to develop 75 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity over the next 15 years, marking an unprecedented shift in the Southeast Asian nation’s power generation strategy, as revealed by its climate envoy at the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan.
Hashim Djojohadikusumo, brother of newly-elected President Prabowo Subianto and Indonesia’s representative at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, outlined the ambitious proposal as part of a larger 100GW energy expansion programme. The initiative represents a significant step towards Indonesia’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
The comprehensive plan encompasses various renewable sources, including solar, hydro, geothermal, and notably, nuclear power – the latter being a contentious proposition given Indonesia’s seismic activity. Currently, the nation’s power grid operates with over 90GW capacity, with coal accounting for more than half and renewables contributing less than 15%.
Supporting this green transition, state utility Perusahaan Listrik Negara is developing plans for a 70,000-kilometre green transmission network, according to CEO Darmawan Prasodjo.
Despite Indonesia’s substantial renewable energy potential, historical development has been hampered by coal subsidies that have made renewable projects commercially challenging for investors. The new administration appears determined to overcome these obstacles, with additional plans including massive reforestation efforts covering 12.7 million hectares of degraded forest land, potentially backed by international funding sources including the Bezos Earth Fund.
The announcement signals a major policy shift for one of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters, though details regarding the remaining 25GW of planned capacity and specific carbon offset projects remain to be clarified.
