Climate Change Mitigation: PLN Partners with UNOPS to Boost National Renewable Energy Utilisation
This step also aims to strengthen global synergies to increase the utilisation of New Renewable Energy (EBT) as part of the company’s sustainability commitments in supporting climate change mitigation efforts.
The study relates to strategies for transitioning Steam Power Plants (PLTU), developing smart grids and Energy Storage Systems (ESS), as well as studies supporting renewable energy development.
The partnership agreement document with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) was handed over at the PLN Sustainability Day 2026 event titled ‘Empowering Climate Resilience’ in Jakarta on Tuesday (28/4) last.
PLN’s President Director, Darmawan Prasodjo, stated that the cooperation reflects PLN’s ongoing efforts to strengthen global partnerships in delivering real solutions to address climate change.
According to him, strategic collaboration and support among parties in the energy transition is one of the efforts to realise national energy sovereignty and build sustainable economic resilience.
“PLN continues to strengthen global partnerships to deliver real and sustainable solutions in facing climate change, including through collaboration with UNOPS. This partnership reflects a visionary alliance to accelerate Indonesia’s energy transition through high-impact concrete initiatives,” Darmawan said in a written statement on Thursday (30/4/2026).
He added that global support is a vital element for Indonesia in carrying out the energy transition. He emphasised that the climate crisis is a cross-border challenge whose impacts are felt worldwide.
“Climate change is a global challenge that knows no national borders. Greenhouse gas emissions in one region of the Earth will impact other regions. Therefore, the energy transition becomes a collective struggle to safeguard the future of human civilisation,” Darmawan stressed.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director of the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) UNOPS, John Cotton, stated that this collaboration is an important step to align Indonesia’s energy sector transformation through international support.
This involvement is expected to accelerate the implementation of various priority programmes through a study-based approach, technological innovation, and corporate capacity building.
“This agreement reflects ETP’s ongoing commitment to supporting Indonesia’s ambitious energy transition agenda. PLN is the main driver in this transformation. Through this partnership, we aim to provide strategic, technical, and practical support that enables the acceleration of clean energy development and electricity grid readiness. Together, we hope to create long-term impacts for Indonesia’s economy, society, and environment,” John said.
On the other hand, Head of the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, Matthew David Johnson-Idan, expressed appreciation for PLN’s progressive steps in translating Indonesia’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, both through the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 2030 and the Net Zero Emissions (NZE) 2060 target.
According to him, the transition to EBT is not only about preserving the environment for future generations but also a primary strategy in maintaining energy resilience and national economic competitiveness.
“In the national energy transition roadmap, PLN’s role is crucial. PLN is not merely an electricity provider but a frontline institution that translates Indonesia’s climate ambitions into real actions through renewable energy expansion, grid modernisation (smart grid), and massive energy efficiency strengthening,” Matthew said.
Matthew added that the transformation of the global energy system is currently an inevitability. He affirmed that the United Nations is ready to support PLN through various strategic collaborations and innovative financing schemes to accelerate impactful energy transition investments.
“In this context, the United Nations is ready to support PLN in mobilising capital markets, including through instruments such as corporate bond issuance, blended finance, and risk-sharing mechanisms that can encourage long-term private investment while preserving public value,” Matthew said.
PLN Sustainability Day 2026 serves as a forum bringing together stakeholders from within and outside the country to unite visions in accelerating national electricity sector decarbonisation.
In its fifth year of implementation, PLN emphasised that international synergies are an important foundation in carrying out the national energy transition.
PLN’s collaboration with various global partners will certainly strengthen the company’s steps in expanding the utilisation of clean energy, as well as building a more resilient, inclusive, globally competitive electricity system, and driving national green economic growth.