IESR: Transmission network must be considered in solar power plant development

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) Chief Executive Officer Fabby Tumiwa said PT PLN (Persero) must pay attention to its electricity transmission network to ensure the programme to build 100 gigawatt (GW) solar power plants (PLTS) runs smoothly.

“In the PLN system, one of the things that must be considered is the electricity network,” Fabby said when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Monday.

According to him, the government’s 100 GW solar power programme is a positive development, as solar power is a form of new renewable energy.

However, Fabby said it is no less important for PLN to ensure that its transmission network can supply and provide support for the government programme.

He assessed that PLN’s current electricity network has not been designed to receive large-scale variable renewable energy generation entering the system at the same time.

“So, the PLN network must indeed be strengthened so that it is able to accommodate the entry of solar power plants,” he said.

Fabby said the PLN network system is not used by just one power plant, as there are currently a number of power plants feeding into the system to supply the nation’s energy needs.

According to him, each power plant has different characteristics, so PLN must prepare its network system to be able to receive large-scale solar power.

“In the PLN system, we are not only talking about power plants developed by PLN itself. There are also other power plants, for example rooftop solar power plants. Rooftop solar has its own characteristics. For that reason, the PLN network requires not only transmission capacity, but also the ability to manage power from new renewable energy plants,” he added.

Previously, President Prabowo Subianto said the government would build 100 GW of solar power plants within two years.

Solar power is one of the ways Indonesia is building 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, and with that our emissions are reduced by 44 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. That is just B50. We are also known, known by world leaders, that we will build 100 gigawatts of solar power,” the President said at the launch of the B50 mandate at the KM 57 rest area on the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road in Karawang, West Java, on Thursday (9/7/2026).