Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto officially inaugurated Indonesia's 100GW solar power programme on 25 August, with the launch of 14 solar power plant projects across multiple provinces.
The 14 solar power plants, which are under various stages of development,will have a combined capacity of 5.3GWp. The projects include the 300MWp Gilimanuk plant, the 134MWp Gajah Mungkur floating plant, the 0.92MWp Sembur plant, and the 0.078MWp Rengit Island plant.
Indonesia has set a target to achieve 100GW of solar power, to diversify energy sources and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by accelerating the development of renewable energy. The aim is to achieve this within three years, Prabowo said.
Earlier this month, Prabowo had announced that the country will develop 30GW by the end of 2026. He also said that state-owned utility PLN must abandon approximately 13GW of diesel power generation by this year.
Indonesia spends between $28bn-30bn/yr on fuel imports, and the country needs to reduce imports to achieve energy independence, Prabowo said.
The solar power initiative will generate annual state budget subsidy savings of 73.9 trillion rupiah ($4.2bn) by replacing diesel-fired generation, said energy minister Bahlil Lahadalia on 25 August. The programme is also projected to save up to 6mn kiloliters/yr of diesel consumption, and reduce carbon emissions by 140.16mn t/yr.
The 14 solar power plants that were launched are:
- Tembesi plant in Riau Islands
- Sembur Island plant in Riau Islands
- Rengit Island plant in Bangka Belitung Islands province
- Saguling plant in West Java province
- Purwakarta plant in West Java province
- Jatiluhur plant in West Java province
- Cirata plant in West Java province
- Jatigede plant in West Java province
- Gajah Mungkur plant in Central Java province
- Karangkates plant in East Java province
- Madura plant in East Java province
- Pasuruan plant in East Java province
- Banyuwangi plant in East Java province
- Gilimanuk plant in Bali province
