Jakarta – Executive Director of the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), Fabby Tumiwa, emphasised the importance of grid flexibility to accelerate the clean energy transition in Indonesia. He believes developing modern and adaptive electricity infrastructure will be the primary key to integrating renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, into the national power system.
“Renewable energy is the future. However, its intermittent nature requires a more flexible and reliable electricity network. The government must immediately modernise the network, develop an energy storage system, and ensure the integration of smart grid technology to support the energy transition,” Fabby said in a written statement Thursday, December 12, in the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) ‘Increasing Electricity System Flexibility for a Rapid Energy Transition’ organised by the British Embassy and IESR.
Fabby explained that the clean energy transition is about replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy and preparing supporting infrastructure. He cited the example of the UK, which has successfully modernised its electricity grid to accommodate the significant penetration of renewable energy.
IESR’s Green Energy Transition Indonesia Manager, Erina Mursanti, highlighted the UK’s move to encourage grid flexibility. “The UK has developed schemes such as cap-and-floor to fund energy storage and interconnection projects. Indonesia can adopt a similar approach to accelerate the energy transition,” she said.
Erina also appreciated the Indonesian government’s plan to build a green super grid connecting Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Nusa Tenggara starting in 2029. She emphasised the need for concrete steps to achieve this target in the next five years.
In the National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) 2025-2045, the energy transition has been designated as a game changer for Indonesia’s economic growth. The government aims to phase out coal-fired power plants by 2040 and fully utilise renewable energy by 2050.
IESR also highlighted the Green Energy Transition Indonesia (GETI) Project, a collaboration between Indonesia and the UK, as one example of a successful partnership. (Hartatik)
