IESR: Solar power plants are the solution to accelerating renewable energy transition

The Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) has stated that the construction of solar power plants (PLTS) is a solution for accelerating the renewable energy transition because it can be carried out with community participation. “PLTS is currently the cheapest and easiest electricity to apply,” said IESR Chief Executive Officer Fabby Tumiwa in Jakarta on Thursday. According to him, the 100 gigawatt (GW) PLTS programme launched by the government is a solution for realising the renewable energy transition. Fabby said that the programme is indeed quite large, but PLTS is a renewable energy whose development can be accelerated through community participation. “If we want to build renewable energy quickly and participatively, the key is PLTS,” he said. Indonesia’s renewable energy potential reaches 3,600 gigawatts, with solar energy having the largest potential at 3,200 gigawatts, and this needs to be utilised well so that the renewable energy transition can proceed. Febby added that building PLTS can be done from a household to industrial scale, making it suitable for accelerating the renewable energy transition. “For others, it cannot be done quickly. For example, geothermal requires exploration first, and likewise with hydro energy, we must know the water discharge over a year because it will decrease during the dry season, so it cannot be fast. Indeed, if we want it to be fast and participative, it is with PLTS,” he said. Previously, President Prabowo Subianto revealed the government’s plan to build a number of solar power plants with a total capacity of 100 gigawatts within two years. The President explained that the PLTS is one of Indonesia’s ways to build energy self-sufficiency while reducing carbon emissions. “We are being talked about in the world. One, why are we being talked about? We are leading in reducing carbon emissions. We are leading. They know we have the B50 programme; earlier, our emissions savings were 44 million carbon dioxide equivalent, 44 million, we reduced. That is just with the B50 programme. What if we are also known, known by world leaders, that we will build 100 gigawatts of solar power,” said the President at the launch of the B50 mandate at Rest Area KM 57 of the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road, Karawang, West Java, on Thursday.