Building Energy Independence from Mosque Rooftops: Green Waqf Could Drive 100 GW in Indonesia

As Indonesia approaches the 81st anniversary of its independence, the concept of national sovereignty is taking on a new meaning: breaking free from fossil fuel dependency and leading the transition to clean energy. During a panel discussion at the Indonesia Net-Zero Summit (INZS) 2026, representatives from state institutions, the government, and a civil society consortium emphasised that mosques and the Muslim community hold crucial potential to drive national energy independence through the Green Waqf scheme. The interactive dialogue, titled ‘Faith-Based Contribution to Indonesia’s Solarisation Ambition’, revealed that the ambition to utilise solar power plants (PLTS) is no longer solely a technocratic or corporate matter. Community and religious movements can serve as vital pillars, with the potential to contribute to the national target of 100 GW of PLTS. The potential of Zakat, Infak, Sedekah, and Wakaf (ZISWAF) in Indonesia, estimated at nearly Rp 400 trillion per year, along with accumulated cash waqf reaching Rp 181 trillion, can be optimised as social and economic capital for long-term public benefit. M. Ali Yusuf, Commissioner and Head of the Nazhir Institution at the Indonesian Waqf Board (BWI), explained that addressing the climate crisis and energy transition is integral to the principles of Maqashid asy-Syari’ah, particularly in preserving religion, intellect, wealth, progeny, and life. He noted that BWI has been consistently promoting the Green Waqf Framework, positioning renewable energy as a key pillar of productive waqf development. ‘We at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Waqf Board are continuously seeking ways to realise this vast potential, not just record it. We need public support and literacy on waqf, as its benefits will certainly return to the community in the long term, including through the installation of solar panels on mosque rooftops,’ Ali explained. He added that solar panels funded by waqf not only free houses of worship from long-term electricity bills but also generate savings that can be reallocated for sustainable economic empowerment and public welfare. From an energy policy perspective, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources highlighted significant evaluations, including updates to the Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL). Special Staff for the Acceleration of Strategic Issues, M. Pradana Indraputra, noted that the renewable energy mix target has been raised significantly. ‘The previous RUPTL had a portion of around 52 percent. The current one is about 73 percent, including batteries and other components,’ Pradana stated. He assessed that such a massive transformation cannot be achieved through the state budget or large-scale investment alone, and thus appreciated the collaboration and contribution of community movements in rooftop solarisation involving public funds and places of worship. Pradana also pointed out the economic incentives, noting that places of worship receive specific electricity subsidies from PLN, making their electricity costs significantly cheaper. He invited organisers to involve the government in their efforts. With an estimated 750,000 mosques and prayer rooms across Indonesia, the accumulated potential for community-based renewable energy is substantial. The involvement of just 200,000 mosques with 5 kW solar installations could generate 1 GW of clean energy. Concrete implementation of this synergy has been demonstrated through the NUUR+ initiative, a charity and waqf energy platform initiated by a civil society consortium including MOSAIC. The programme is set to complete another mosque solarisation project in the disaster-affected area of Aceh Tamiang, proving that social capital and spiritual values can produce measurable environmental and economic impacts, including women’s empowerment. Reka Maharwati, Deputy Programme Director for Just Energy Transition at MOSAIC, stressed that solarising houses of worship is about more than just saving energy. ‘It is about revitalising spaces for community empowerment. Through the momentum of INZS 2026, we invite all stakeholders to synergise and expand this innovative financing to achieve community-based clean energy targets,’ she said.