COP29: Indonesia Unveils Ambitious 75 GW Renewable Energy Plan for Next 15 Years

Indonesia announced plans to present international investors with opportunities to develop 75 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy over the next 15 years, according to the country’s climate envoy at the COP29 summit. The initiative, presented by Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Indonesia’s representative to the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference and brother of newly elected President Prabowo Subianto, aims to advance the country’s transition toward carbon neutrality.

President Subianto’s administration has committed to adding 100 GW of new energy capacity, with 75% to come from renewable sources, Djojohadikusumo noted during a live-streamed address in Baku. This renewable push will encompass solar, hydro, geothermal, and nuclear energy, although plans for the remaining 25 GW of new capacity were not specified.

As one of the world’s major greenhouse gas emitters, Indonesia has set a goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, in part by phasing out its coal-fired power plants, which currently generate more than half of the country’s 90 GW of installed capacity. Renewables make up less than 15% of Indonesia’s energy mix, and no nuclear capacity is yet in place, a point of debate in the seismically active nation.

State-owned utility Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) also announced plans to support the renewable expansion through a proposed 70,000 km (43,500 miles) green transmission line, aimed at facilitating the distribution of renewable energy. PLN’s CEO Darmawan Prasodjo, speaking from Baku, emphasized the project’s role in helping Indonesia meet its sustainability goals.

While Indonesia’s renewable potential is substantial, progress has been slow, with analysts attributing delays to coal subsidies that disincentivize renewable investments.

In addition to renewable projects, Djojohadikusumo stated that Indonesia would offer carbon offset projects intended to remove hundreds of millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, though specific project details were not provided.