Jakarta – Indonesia’s ambitious solar power expansion will depend not only on government targets but also on developing bankable projects, strengthening supply chains, and building investment partnerships, industry leaders said at the opening of the ASEAN Solar-Storage Summit 2026 in Jakarta on Tuesday, November 10.
The two-day summit, organised by Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), brings together government officials, financiers, technology providers, project developers and industry representatives to discuss opportunities and challenges in accelerating solar power and battery energy storage deployment across Indonesia and the wider Southeast Asian region.
Opening the event, SMM Chief Executive Officer Logan Lu said Indonesia had significant opportunities to develop its solar and energy storage industries, building on its established position as a major producer of nickel and other minerals used in battery manufacturing.
“Energy transition is not a product you buy. It’s about the supply chain you are building,” Lu said, pointing to the range of materials and components required across the solar and battery storage industries, including copper, aluminium, lithium, nickel, cobalt and silver.
He said the growing scale of the energy transition would require more transparent pricing, reliable market data and stronger cooperation between Indonesian and Chinese industry players.
Lu noted that Indonesia had set ambitious renewable energy targets, including plans for substantial solar power development and a 100-gigawatt national solar programme. However, he said the gap between policy ambitions and actual deployment would ultimately be closed through concrete projects and effective supply chains.
“Policy has already finished its job. The targets are written, but the gap will be closed by projects,” he said.
According to Lu, Indonesia’s solar capacity stood at around 1.5 gigawatts, highlighting the scale of the challenge in translating national ambitions into installed capacity.
He said SMM, which has 27 years of experience in commodity price reporting and market intelligence, had expanded its research into the solar and energy storage sectors over the past five years. Its team now includes 13 analysts working across China, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The company has operated in Indonesia for four years and established a local office three years ago, Lu said, emphasising the importance of understanding local market conditions rather than relying solely on information from overseas.
Discussions throughout the first day focused on investment opportunities, project financing, technology, and integrating energy storage into industrial and commercial electricity systems.
A panel on unlocking solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) investments examined power purchase agreement risks, local and international joint ventures, and project financing strategies. Participants included representatives from state infrastructure financing company PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur, HHP Law Firm and Bank Mandiri.
Another discussion explored advances in solar photovoltaic technology, the bankability of solar modules and compliance with Indonesia’s domestic component requirements, known as Tingkat Komponen Dalam Negeri (TKDN).
The programme also addressed financing green energy transitions and improving power reliability through smart storage solutions for energy-intensive industries and commercial properties, including shopping malls.
Other sessions examined the potential of island microgrids and commercial and industrial energy storage, as well as the use of artificial intelligence in energy management for mining and smelting operations.
A further discussion brought together industry representatives to explore off-grid hybrid systems, diesel displacement and lifecycle costs for heavy industries and infrastructure in remote areas.
The summit continues on Wednesday with a company visit, providing participants with an opportunity to gain further insights into the region’s solar and energy storage industry.
Lu said SMM’s role was to serve as an independent platform connecting industry players rather than promoting particular products or suppliers.
He encouraged participants to use the gathering to establish business partnerships and strengthen cooperation across the supply chain, particularly between Indonesia and China.
As Indonesia seeks to accelerate its energy transition, the development of a reliable solar and storage ecosystem will be critical to turning its renewable energy ambitions into commercially viable projects. (nsh)
tanahair.net is an official media partner of the 2026 ASEAN Solar Storage Summit organised by Shanghai Metals Market
