Indonesia Advances Renewable Energy With Floating Solar Power Plants To Meet Net Zero Emission Goals

In a significant push towards its Net Zero Emission (NZE) target by 2060, Indonesia is optimizing the use of its vast renewable energy potential, especially through the development of floating solar power plants (PLTS) on reservoir surfaces. With the country’s renewable energy potential estimated at nearly 4 terawatts (TW), this move is seen as a critical step in reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

At a recent Thematic Forum of the Public Relations Coordinating Agency (Bakohumas) titled “Cirata Mendunia: Building a Global Reputation to Pursue Net Zero Emission Targets,” Hendra Iswahyudi, Director of Energy Conservation at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), highlighted that the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) had approved plans to expand the capacity of floating PLTS across several dams. This approval opens new opportunities for utilizing reservoir surfaces to generate renewable energy.

“By utilizing floating PV on several dam surfaces owned by the PUPR Ministry, we can accelerate the addition of 14 GW of capacity. The ESDM Ministry has received approval to increase the installed capacity of solar power plants (PLTS) on these reservoirs,” Hendra stated during the forum in Bandung on September 12, 2024.

Minister Basuki Hadimuljono of the PUPR Ministry has authorized an increase in the percentage of dam surface area that can be utilized for solar energy, raising it from 5% to 25%. This decision is expected to enhance renewable energy production significantly.

Hendra also noted that the 14.7 GW potential across 257 reservoirs is spread throughout Indonesia, including regions such as Java-Bali, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Maluku-Nusa Tenggara. However, careful planning and coordination with state electricity company PLN are required to align these projects with the national electricity grid.

The PUPR Ministry’s reservoirs offer a total potential of 89.37 GW for floating PLTS installations across 293 locations. The key distribution of this potential includes:

• Java-Bali: 9,076.95 MW (114 locations)
• Sumatra: 1,967.56 MW (17 locations)
• Kalimantan: 690.22 MW (11 locations)
• Sulawesi: 1,646.84 MW (15 locations)
• Maluku-Nusa Tenggara: 1,320.14 MW (100 locations)

Additionally, 36 lakes across the country have a renewable energy potential of 74.66 GW, further enhancing the possibilities for clean energy generation. Among the lakes:

• Java-Bali: 641.3 MW (2 locations)
• Sumatra: 34,867.9 MW (12 locations)
• Kalimantan: 2,437.9 MW (3 locations)
• Sulawesi: 24,415.6 MW (6 locations)
• Maluku-Papua-Nusa Tenggara: 12,302.4 MW (13 locations)

As of July 2024, Indonesia had already installed 193.01 MW of floating solar capacity, a figure expected to rise rapidly with the expanded utilization of dam surfaces.

This initiative is part of Indonesia’s broader strategy to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and shift towards new renewable energy (EBT). The country’s ambitious plans include increasing the share of renewable energy in its energy mix to meet both national and global commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The development of floating PLTS represents a major leap in Indonesia’s energy transition efforts, as the nation works towards its Net Zero Emission target and strengthens its global reputation as a leader in clean energy innovation.