Indonesia Backs Solar Plus Hydro to Meet Its Growing Power Needs

(Bloomberg) -- Indonesia plans to rely on solar and hydro power for the majority of its renewable-energy additions over the next ten years.

The country is looking to add 17 gigawatts of solar, and 16 gigawatts of hydro in its upcoming national power plan, Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, deputy minister of state-owned enterprises, told a conference on Tuesday. That will help raise the renewable share of its energy mix to about 35% from 12% last year, he said.

Southeast Asia’s largest economy still relies on coal for most of its power, but its new government has touted ambitions to roll out renewable energy to replace the fossil fuel. That’s despite the US’s withdrawal from an international plan to help finance the transition from the dirtiest fossil fuel.

Of the 71 gigawatts of capacity Indonesia plans to add over the next 10 years, about 70% will come from renewables, Wirjoatmodjo said. The country will also add 15 gigawatts of gas power, and a further 5 gigawatts of coal, he said.

The national power plan — known locally as the RUPTL — is now being finalized by Perusahaan Listrik Negara, the state power company, and government ministries, according to Wirjoatmodjo.

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