Jakarta, INTI - China and Indonesia are expanding cooperation in the new energy sector, covering solar power plant development, supply chain integration, and manufacturing as Indonesia accelerates its transition toward cleaner energy.
The strengthened partnership was highlighted at the 2026 China (Taiyuan) International Energy Industry Expo, where an Indonesian delegation participated for the first time.
Qiu Xingyi, an Indonesian representative participating in the exhibition, said the two countries have significant potential to collaborate in developing new energy technologies, including wind power and photovoltaics.
In recent years, Qiu’s company has also supported several Chinese companies in expanding their new energy businesses in Indonesia.
Indonesia Seeks China’s New Energy Technologies
Shanxi Province, where the exhibition was held, is one of China’s major energy-producing regions and is increasingly integrating new energy into its power system.
In 2025, Shanxi’s installed capacity of new and clean energy reached 90.48 million kilowatts, an annual increase of 18.29 million kilowatts.
The figure accounted for 55.1 percent of the province’s total installed power generation capacity, marking the first time new and clean energy capacity surpassed coal-fired power capacity.
“We hope to use this exhibition to discover more new energy technologies and products that can be applied in Indonesia,” said Liu Chen Zhi, a representative of an Indonesian energy company.
Indonesia has substantial renewable energy resources, including solar, hydropower, and geothermal energy, while China has developed strong capabilities in new energy equipment manufacturing, project development, energy storage, and digital operations.
Xu Zaishan, Executive Vice Chairman of the Indonesia China Business Council (ICBC), said these complementary strengths create significant opportunities for both countries to advance clean energy cooperation.
“Indonesia is an archipelagic country with enormous energy needs, but the share of new energy in its energy mix remains relatively low. Meanwhile, China has developed relatively mature technologies in the new energy sector. This is where the two countries can find opportunities for cooperation,” Xu said.
Cirata and Karawang Solar Projects Begin Operations
Several new energy projects involving Chinese companies are already operating in Indonesia, including the Cirata Floating Photovoltaic (PV) project in West Java, developed by PowerChina with a total installed capacity of 192 megawatts.
The project was fully connected to the electricity grid in 2023 and supplies clean energy to the Java-Madura-Bali grid, while also contributing to skills development and job creation.
A 100-megawatt PV project in Karawang, developed by a Chinese company, was also officially handed over for operation in 2024.
The project can generate more than 150 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, enough to meet the estimated yearly electricity needs of around 112,000 households.
The Karawang PV project is also expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 114,700 tons, while its construction created more than 1,000 jobs.
Cooperation Expands into Supply Chains and Manufacturing
China-Indonesia cooperation is also expanding into the new energy industrial supply chain. The development gained momentum after Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia held discussions with several solar PV companies during his visit to China in August 2025.
The Indonesian government expects investment and technology transfers to accelerate the development of solar cells, modules, energy storage systems, and other related industries.
Cooperation is also moving beyond project development into manufacturing, including new energy battery and electric vehicle industries that have attracted Chinese investment.
These developments are helping Indonesia gradually transition from a raw material exporter into a regional base for metal processing and new energy industries.
At the seventh China-Indonesia Energy Forum in September 2024, both countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation in renewable energy and new energy technologies while maintaining collaboration in traditional energy sectors.
Industry players expect deeper cooperation in technology, industrial supply chains, and human resources to broaden China-Indonesia collaboration from individual projects toward coordination across the wider new energy industry value chain.
Conclusion
China and Indonesia are deepening cooperation across the new energy value chain, from solar power projects and energy storage to manufacturing and technology transfer. By combining Indonesia’s renewable energy potential with China’s technological and industrial capabilities, the partnership could play a key role in accelerating Indonesia’s clean energy transition.
Read more: Indonesia Urged to Go Beyond Being a Market and Become a Producer of Low-Carbon Technologies