Indonesia's renewable energy transition opportunities
Abstract
Indonesia, as the world’s largest archipelagic nation, holds vast renewable energy resources, including solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, and biomass. Despite an estimated potential exceeding 420 GW, deployment remains constrained by fossil fuel dependence, inadequate infrastructure, and uneven regional development. This paper develops a geospatial framework that integrates resource mapping with technical feasibility and region-specific strategies. Using data from national and international sources, thematic maps were created to identify renewable energy hotspots across Java-Bali, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Papua, and Maluku. The analysis reveals that rooftop and floating PV are optimal for Java-Bali, hybrid microgrids for Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi, geothermal and hydropower expansion for Sumatra, biomass-to-energy for Kalimantan, and floating PV with community-based systems for Papua and Maluku. The novelty of this study lies in combining geospatial mapping with engineering feasibility considerations – such as storage integration, modular geothermal plants, and grid retrofitting – while also assessing risks and mitigation strategies. Furthermore, the discussion highlights the mechanical engineering implications of system design, including turbine optimization, thermal management, and advanced gasification technologies. This framework provides policymakers, engineers, and investors with a practical roadmap to accelerate Indonesia’s renewable energy transition toward energy security, sustainability, and socio-economic development
References
N. A. Pambudi, R. A. Firdaus, R. Rizkiana, D. K. Ulfa, M. S. Salsabila, Suharno, Sukatiman. Renewable Energy in Indonesia: Current Status, Potential, and Future Development. Sustainability 15, 2342 (2023).
E. Erdiwansyah, M. Mahidin, J. Jalaluddin. Investigation of availability, demand, targets, and development of renewable energy in 2017–2050: a case study in Indonesia. International Journal of Coal Science & Technology 8, 483–499 (2021).
J. Langer, J. Quist, K. Blok. Review of Renewable Energy Potentials in Indonesia and Their Contribution to a 100% Renewable Electricity System. Energies 14(21), 7033 (2021).
A. Raihan. An overview of the energy segment of Indonesia: present situation, prospects, and forthcoming advancements in renewable energy technology. Journal of Technology Innovations and Energy 2(3), 37–63 (2023).
F. Paundra, A. Nurdin. Study of the potential and development of renewable energy power in Indonesia: A review. Steam Engineering 3(2), 62–72 (2022).
M. Syabriyana. Progress and Challenges of Renewable Energy Transition in Indonesia’s Energy Mix Towards Net Zero Emissions. JURUTERA - Jurnal Umum Teknik Terapan 11, 76–82 (2024).
K. Mudhoffar & L. Magriasti. Ekonomi Politik Energi Terbarukan: Peluang dan Tantangan di Indonesia. Multiverse: Open Multidisciplinary Journal 3, 47–52 (2024).
A. Sharma. The Role of Renewable Energy Policies in Achieving Environmental Sustainability Goals. International Journal for Research Publication and Seminar 15, 275–281 (2024).
O. Adeniran. Systemic factors in modern renewable energy development across national income categories. Renewable Energies 2(2), (2024).
E. Obuseh, J. Eyenubo, J. Alele, A. Okpare, & I. Oghogho. A Systematic Review of Barriers to Renewable Energy Integration and Adoption. Journal of Asian Energy Studies 9, 26–45 (2025).
D. F. Silalahi, A. Blakers, M. Stocks, B. Lu, C. Cheng, and L. Hayes. Indonesia’s Vast Solar Energy Potential. Energies (Basel) 14, 5424 (2021).
M.A. Borrero, R. Cui, C. Squire, J. Lou, A. Bagaskara, D. Arinaldo, R. Wiranegara, C. Dahl, M. Schreier, F. Tumiwa, N. Hultman. 1.5°C-Aligned Coal Power Transition Pathways in Indonesia. Center for Global Sustainability, University of Maryland, College Park, USA; Institute for Essential Services Reform, Jakarta, Indonesia (2024).
Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR), I. National Energy Statistics 2022. https://www.esdm.go.id/id/publikasi/handbook-of-energy-economic-statistics-of-indonesia (2023).
International Energy Agency (IEA). Enhancing Indonesia’s Power System Pathways to Meet the Renewables Targets in 2025 and Beyond. www.iea.org/t&c/ (2020).
A. Sugiyono, B. Wirjodirdjo. & E. Hilmawan. The Potential of Renewable Energy to Replace Diesel Power Plants in Supporting Energy Transition in Indonesia. Key Eng Mater 974, 155–163 (2024).
D. Aprianto, R. Laksmono, F. A. H. Sinambela & S. Murtiana. Addressing Indonesia’s Fossil Fuel Dependence: A Path Towards a Sustainable Future. International Journal Of Humanities Education and Social Sciences (IJHESS) 4, (2024).
Sarjiya, L. M. Putranto, R. F. S. Budi, D. Novitasari, Deendarlianto, Tumiran. Role of the energy-carbon-economy nexus and CO2 abatement cost in supporting energy policy analysis: A multi-scenario analysis of the Java-Bali system. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 187, 113708 (2023).
H. B. Tambunan, D. F. Hakam, I. Prahastono, A. Pharmatrisanti, A. P. Purnomoadi, , S. Aisyah, Y. Wicakson, and I. G. R. Sandy. The Challenges and Opportunities of Renewable Energy Source (RES) Penetration in Indonesia: Case Study of Java-Bali Power System. Energies (Basel) 13 (22), (2020).
G. Notton. Problematic Integration of Fatal Renewable Energy Systems in Island Grids. Renewable Energy in the Service of Mankind Vol II 245–255 (Springer International Publishing, Cham, 2016). doi:10.1007/978-3-319-18215-5_22.
M. Stocks, A. Blakers, C. Cheng, & B. Lu. Towards 100% renewable electricity for Indonesia: the role for solar and pumped hydro storage. 2019 International Conference on Technologies and Policies in Electric Power & Energy 1–4 (2019). doi:10.1109/IEEECONF48524.2019.9102581.
S. Isnandar B.P., N. Hariyanto, & D. K. F. Tampubolon. Structure of Electricity Market in Indonesia and The Challenge of Integrating Large Scale VRE. 6th International Conference on Power Engineering and Renewable Energy (ICPERE) 1–6 (IEEE, 2024). doi:10.1109/ICPERE63447.2024.10845327.
A. Qolbi. The Emergence of Solar Photovoltaic Technology in Indonesia: Winners and Losers. E3S Web of Conferences 191, 01001 (2020).
L. Andor Mulana Sijabat, & A. Mostavan. Solar power plant in Indonesia: economic, policy, and technological challenges to its development and deployment. IOP Conference Series Earth and Environment Science 753, 012003 (2021).
M. Angelin Naiborhu, A. Mukhlis Firdaus, F. Putra Bakti, R. Lukman Tawekal, & E. Charnius Ilman. State-of-the-Art of Floating PV Development in the Indonesian Waters. IOP Conference Series Earth Environment and Science 1395, 012028 (2024).
E. Y. Pramono, & S. Isnandar. Criteria for integration of intermittent renewable energy to the Java Bali Grid. 2017 International Conference on High Voltage Engineering and Power Systems (ICHVEPS) 91–94 (IEEE, 2017). doi:10.1109/ICHVEPS.2017.8225919.
A. H. Ismail, & G. H. N. Nur Rahayu. Wind Energy Feasibility Study of Seven Potential Locations in Indonesia. International Journal in Advance Science Engineering and Information Technology 10, 1970–1978 (2020).
Erwin Susanto. Indonesia’s Readiness to Utilize Renewable Energy Wind Power Plants As Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals. Journal of Management and Energy Business 4, (2024).
M. Maulidia, P. Dargusch, P. Ashworth, & A. Wicaksono. Sidrap: A Study of the Factors That Led to the Development of Indonesia’s First Large-Scale Wind Farm. Case Studies in the Environment 3, 1–12 (2019).
A. Lomi. The Role of Renewable Energy: Sumba Iconic Island, an Implementation of 100 Percent Renewable Energy by 2020. In: Pasila, F., Tanoto, Y., Lim, R., Santoso, M., Pah, N. (eds) Proceedings of Second International Conference on Electrical Systems, Technology and Information 2015 (ICESTI 2015). Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, vol 365. Springer, Singapore. (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-988-2_19
A. D. Laksono, A. A. S. Habibi, D. T. Febiana, N. A. M. Bahri, S. Nisa, & S. D. A. Febriani. Pemetaan Potensi Energi Panas Bumi Pada Provinsi Sumatera Utara Berbasis Digital Melalui Quantum GIS. Jurnal Engine: Energi, Manufaktur, dan Material 7, 01 (2023).
D.N. Sahdarani, M. A. Ponka, & A. D. Oktaviani. Geothermal Energy As An Alternative Source For Indonesia’s Energy Security: The Prospect And Challenges. Journal of Strategic and Global Studies 3, (2020).
D. A. A. Putri, & M. Sulhan. The development of geothermal energy as a renewable power plant. Journal of Earth Energy Engineering 12, 11–15 (2023).
H. Hermanto, E. Heryadi, & A. Susanty. Potensi Biogas dari Limbah Padat Industri Kelapa Sawit di Kalimantan Timur. Jurnal Riset Teknologi Industri 15, 487 (2021).
J. Guo, Y. Zhang, J. Fang, z. Ma, C. Li, C.M. Yan, N. Qiao, Y. Liu, M. Bian. Reduction and Reuse of Forestry and Agricultural Bio-Waste through Innovative Green Utilization Approaches: A Review. Forests, 15, 1372 (2024). https://doi.org/10.3390/f15081372
M. Rajvanshi, R. Podili, V. Dwivedi, D. Sanyal, & S. Dasgupta. Waste Biomass to Bioenergy: A Compressive Review. Biotechnology for Waste Biomass Utilization 1–28 (Apple Academic Press, Boca Raton, 2022). doi:10.1201/9781003277187-1.
Oo Abdul Rosyid, Annisaa Taradini, Hartadhi, Nelly M Lande, Andrianshah, Budi Sutrisno, Budiman Kamil, Dian Khairiani, Toorsilo Hartadi, Adjat Sudrajat, Tarno. Marine-Based Renewable Energy Solution for 3T Areas in Indonesia: Integrating Diesel Hybridization with Floating PV Power Plant. BIO Web Conf 92, 01009 (2024).
Y. Alifa, T. Mahlil, & F. Purnawarman. Feasibility Study of Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) around East Nusa Tenggara Coastal Area. Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Engineering, Infrastructure and Development, ICO-SEID 2022, 23-24 November 2022, Jakarta, Indonesia (EAI, 2023). doi:10.4108/eai.23-11-2022.2338876.
I. Esparza, Á. Olábarri Candela, L. Huang, Y. Yang, C. Budiono, S. Riyadi, W. Hetharia, R. Hantoro, D. Setyawan, I. K. A. P. Utama, T. Wood, Z. Luo. Floating PV Systems as an Alternative Power Source: Case Study on Three Representative Islands of Indonesia. Sustainability. 16(3):1345 (2024). https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031345
M. Angelin Naiborhu, A. Mukhlis Firdaus, F. Putra Bakti, R. Lukman Tawekal, & E. Charnius Ilman. State-of-the-Art of Floating PV Development in the Indonesian Waters. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci 1395, 012028 (2024).
