IESR Maps Indonesia’s Renewables Potential

The Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), an Indonesian think tank in the energy sector, published a study of the technical potential map for renewable energy (EBT) in Indonesia on Tuesday. IESR Executive Director Fabby Tumiwa revealed that Indonesia's renewables potential data still referred to the National General Energy Planning (RUEN) of 443.2 gigawatts (GW), unchanged since 2014. The organization believes that the renewable potential stated in the RUEN is much lower than the actual figure.

Fabby explained that outdated data would affect the perspective, strategy, and decision-making on the use of renewables in Indonesia. "Such a mistake will prevent the government and business players from optimally planning Indonesia's energy transition and formulating policies to speed up the use of renewables. Updating data is very important," he argued. IESR used Geographic Information System (GIS) to update solar, wind, and water potential technical data. Due to the variability and intermittent nature of these three types of renewables, IESR also studied the potential of biomass and pumped hydro energy storage (PHES). As a result, Indonesia's total technical potential of solar, wind, water, and biomass energy could reach 7,879.43 GW and 7,308.8 GWh for the PHES.