ESDM Views Cooperatives as Drivers of the 100 GW Solar Power Plant Programme

Cooperatives can play a role as managers and drivers of community energy needs. Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) views cooperatives as capable of acting as managers and drivers of community energy needs to support the 100 Gigawatt (GW) Solar Power Plant (PLTS) Programme. “The development of renewable energy must consider the balance between supply and demand. Cooperatives can play a role as managers and drivers of energy needs in the community,” stated the Head of the Centre for Survey and Testing of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Trois Dilisusendi, in a statement received in Jakarta on Friday. In line with Trois, the Rumah Energi Foundation through its Green Cooperative Programme has encouraged the strengthening of cooperatives’ roles in the energy transition by reaching more than 150 cooperatives. This programme aligns with efforts to implement the 100 GW PLTS National Strategic Project (PSN), which emphasises inclusive and sustainable community involvement. “Cooperatives have great potential as drivers of the energy transition at the community level, and their role needs to be strengthened through appropriate policies, feasible business models, and adequate financing support,” said Executive Director of Rumah Energi, Sumanda Tondang. The Rumah Energi Green Cooperative Programme integrates Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in cooperative management, while developing practical community-based renewable energy business models in the field. Through the Fair Energy Transition in Indonesia project with the Community-Based Renewable Energy (TERBIT) model, Rumah Energi has also conducted various field assessments. The results show gaps between the national policy framework and implementation needs, particularly in aspects of business models, technical readiness, financing access, and cross-sectoral coordination. To strengthen the ecosystem for PLTS development in Indonesia, Rumah Energi organised the “Green Cooperative Solar Initiative Dialogue: Bridging Policy and Practice in Indonesia’s 100 GW Solar PV Programme”. The forum aims to serve as a strategic dialogue space across stakeholders to strengthen the role of cooperatives in supporting national PLTS development, in line with the 100 GW target in the National Strategic Project (PSN). With a collaborative approach based on real field needs, this initiative is expected to accelerate the implementation of the 100 GW PLTS PSN, while ensuring that Indonesia’s energy transition proceeds in a fair, inclusive, and sustainable manner. “In the future, we hope this dialogue does not stop at discussion but continues to the development of cooperative-based PLTS pilot projects that can be widely replicated. This is a concrete step to ensure a fair and inclusive energy transition in Indonesia,” said Sumanda.