Indonesia to Build 14 Solar Power Plants with 5.3 GWp Capacity, PLN Chief Says World's Largest
PT PLN (Persero) President Director Darmawan Prasodjo has said Indonesia is currently undertaking the world’s largest solar power plant project. “The largest ongoing solar power project in the world at present is in the United Arab Emirates at 5.2 gigawatt peak (GWp). So, the initial phase project of 5.3 GWp has already become the largest ongoing project in the world,” Darmawan said after the Launching and Groundbreaking of the 100 GWp Solar Power Plant Programme in Gilimanuk, Bali, on Tuesday (25/8/2026).
At the event, the government announced 14 solar power plant projects with a total capacity of 5.3 GWp. The 14 projects have an investment value of approximately US$7.7 billion, or around Rp135 trillion, with potential state budget savings of Rp4.6 trillion per year.
“On Java Island alone there will be an addition of around 30 GWp of solar power from everything we combine, plus 100 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS),” Darmawan said.
According to Darmawan, the BESS project is equivalent to 4–5 GW of load follower capacity, enabling it to replace gas and steam power plants. The load follower, or dynamic buffer, serves to compensate for the intermittent nature of solar power supply. “And here the cost saving is around 100 LNG cargoes,” Darmawan said.
He said he wants PLN to be the epicentre in carrying out President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to realise the Asta Cita goals, in this case energy self-sufficiency amid increasingly complex geopolitics. Darmawan stressed that President Prabowo wants Indonesia to reduce fuel oil imports, one way being by replacing diesel-fired power plants that use diesel fuel with solar power plants.
“PLN is the epicentre in carrying out the directive from the President. For that, friends, are you ready to carry out the directive from the President of the Republic of Indonesia?” Darmawan said, greeted by shouts of “Ready!” from PLN employees.
The government announced 14 solar power plant projects with a total capacity of 5.3 GWp. The 14 projects are divided into several categories. Six projects are ready for tender, including the Jatiluhur Floating Solar Power Plant with a capacity of 1,688 MWp located at Jatiluhur Reservoir, Purwakarta, West Java.
Next, the Cirata Floating Solar Power Plant with a capacity of 1,250 MWp at Cirata Reservoir, Purwakarta, West Java; the Jatigede Floating Solar Power Plant with a capacity of 636 MWp at Jatigede Reservoir, Sumedang, West Java; the Madura Cluster Solar Power Plant and BESS with a capacity of 605 MWp in Sumenep, East Java, to support the Fat Burning Madura programme, or the elimination of fuel oil in Madura.
Furthermore, the Bali Solar Power Plant with a capacity of 300 MWp in Gilimanuk, Jembrana, Bali, to eliminate fuel oil use in Bali, and the Purwakarta Land Bank Solar Power Plant with a capacity of 69 MWp in Purwakarta, West Java. Thus, the total capacity of solar power plant projects ready for tender is 4,548.92 MWp.
There are also three solar power plant projects in the groundbreaking stage: the Banyuwangi Solar Power Plant with a capacity of 130.2 MWp, the Pasuruan Solar Power Plant with a capacity of 132 MWp, and the Gajah Mungkur Floating Solar Power Plant with a capacity of 134.2 MWp.
Three projects are in the construction stage: the Karangkates Floating Solar Power Plant at 133 MWp with construction reaching 56.54 percent, the Saguling Floating Solar Power Plant with a capacity of 92 MWp with construction reaching 44.4 percent, and the Tembesi Solar Power Plant with a capacity of 46 MWp with construction reaching 65 percent.
Two other solar power plants entering the inauguration stage are the Sembur Island Solar Power Plant in the Riau Islands with a capacity of 0.92 MWp and the Rengit Island Solar Power Plant in Bangka Belitung with a capacity of 0.078 MWp.