Jakarta – The German government, through the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), is collaborating with the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) to make Surabaya a pilot city for the Sustainable Energy Transition in Indonesia (SETI) project. The primary focus of this project is the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy in the building sector.
Executive Director of the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), Fabby Tumiwa, in a seminar on “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Buildings” at the ITS Postgraduate Auditorium on Tuesday, September 16, assessed that Surabaya was a worthy choice because it was considered serious in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Since the beginning of the year, SETI has been working in Surabaya. We conducted a study on the basic energy consumption values of 295 buildings. The results of this study will provide building owners with a concrete picture of how to cut operational costs while reducing energy consumption,” explained Fabby.
He added that the field research results will be completed by the end of September 2025 and presented in October. Fabby emphasised that assistance will continue to be provided so that Surabaya can become a leading city in the decarbonization of the building sector.
From the local government perspective, Head of Surabaya’s Regional Development Planning Agency, Irvan Wahyudrajad, said that energy efficiency is not just a buzzword. According to global data he cited, the building sector is expected to contribute around 40 per cent of energy emissions by 2030.
“Surabaya’s vision is to become a developed, humanistic, and sustainable city. The word ‘sustainable’ is what guides our policies,” said Irvan, representing Mayor Eri Cahyadi.
To that end, the Surabaya City Government is promoting the Compact City concept, which focuses on providing public services close to residents to reduce mobility needs.
“Since mobility is part of energy consumption, our strategy is to bring public services closer, from health and education to neighbourhood-level services,” Irvan added.
In addition, the Surabaya City Government has established Green Building regulations, which require every new building to meet environmentally friendly technical standards. Green Building principles encompass energy efficiency, water efficiency, air quality, the use of environmentally friendly materials, and effective waste management.
Several city facilities have adopted this concept, such as the Joyoboyo Intermodal Terminal (TIJ), the Bappedalitbang Building, and the installation of solar cells in schools, government offices, and traffic lights. Surabaya also has the Benowo Waste Power Plant (PSEL), which is the first of its kind in Indonesia.
Irvan said that successful energy efficiency requires collaboration from all parties. “We are opening up as much space for discussion as possible, including with universities, the private sector, communities, the media, and even the younger generation. The mayor hopes that this spirit of cooperation can accelerate the energy transition in Surabaya,” he concluded. (Hartatik)
Banner photo: Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E via ChatGPT (2025)
