Jakarta – According to the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), accelerating the adoption of solar energy will not be effective without an adequate energy storage system. According to IESR, Indonesia’s solar energy development lags far behind the target despite its vast potential.
In a recent report titled Indonesia Solar Energy Outlook (ISEO) 2025, IESR revealed that solar energy growth in Indonesia has not met expectations, with a new installed capacity of 718 megawatts (MW) as of August 2024. In addition, IESR also launched the Powering the Future report, highlighting the importance of energy storage systems in supporting a sustainable energy transition.
IESR Executive Director Fabby Tumiwa stated that to achieve the net zero emissions target by 2060, Indonesia needs to increase the capacity of solar power plants (PLTS) by 77 gigawatts (GW) by 2030.
“We must increase solar energy capacity by 9-15 GW annually between 2024 and 2030. This is important to achieve the global target of avoiding the earth’s temperature rise above 1.5 degrees Celsius,” Fabby said at a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, October 15.
Energy storage systems (ESS) are a major challenge in developing solar energy in Indonesia. ESS plays a vital role in overcoming the problem of intermittency or instability, which is often a major obstacle for renewable energy plants such as solar and wind power plants. According to Alvin Putra Sisdwinugraha, IESR electricity analyst and author of the *ISEO 2025* report, Indonesia is still at an early stage in ESS development.
“Our solar energy target is difficult to achieve without adequate energy storage support. The need for an energy storage system is urgent. With ESS, we can maintain a stable energy supply even if the solar power plant or wind farm experiences a decrease in output due to weather changes,” said Alvin.
Alvin also added that investment growth in the solar energy sector has doubled recently.
“Investment in solar energy increased from USD 68 million in 2021 to USD 134 million in 2023. However, regulatory stability and market readiness will also determine whether solar energy can develop faster,” he said. (Hartatik)
