Jakarta, INTI - Amid rising global geopolitical tensions, particularly the conflict between Iran and Israel, which has also involved the United States, concerns over energy supply stability are intensifying once again.
Many countries’ heavy reliance on fossil fuels means that political instability in the Middle East often triggers spikes in global energy prices. In this context, accelerating the transition to renewable energy has become increasingly urgent, including for Indonesia.
Indonesia’s Massive Solar Expansion Plan
President Prabowo Subianto has set an ambitious target to develop 100 GW (gigawatts) of solar power capacity within the next two years. This initiative represents a major step toward strengthening national energy security while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
If achieved, the plan would significantly boost Indonesia’s solar capacity in a short period. Historically, the country’s solar development has progressed relatively slowly, with annual capacity additions typically remaining below 1 GW per year.
With a new target of approximately 50 GW per year, the planned acceleration represents an expansion of up to 100 times compared to previous development trends. This scale places Indonesia on a very aggressive solar growth trajectory.
Under the proposed plan, most of the solar capacity will be connected to the national grid operated by PT PLN (Persero). The government aims to install around 89.1 GWp (gigawatt-peak) of grid-connected solar systems, supported by Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) with a capacity of 124.1 GWh (gigawatt-hours).
These storage systems are essential to ensure the stability of electricity supply, given the intermittent nature of solar energy.
In addition, off-grid solar systems with a capacity of 11.7 GWp will be developed, supported by 21.8 GWh of BESS. This approach is designed to expand electricity access to remote and island regions that are not fully connected to the main power grid.
Compared to global leaders such as China, which has installed hundreds of gigawatts of solar capacity in recent years, Indonesia’s total ambition remains smaller. However, the planned acceleration, reaching tens of gigawatts annually, could position Indonesia as one of the fastest-growing solar energy markets in the world, while also unlocking significant investment opportunities in the clean energy sector.
Conclusion
Indonesia’s plan to rapidly scale up solar power reflects a strategic shift toward energy independence and resilience amid global uncertainty. While the target is highly ambitious compared to past growth, it positions the country to become a major player in the global renewable energy transition and opens up significant opportunities for investment and infrastructure development.
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