PLN Outlines Technical Challenges in Integrating Renewable Energy into the Jamali Power System
Jakarta, VIVA – The national Green Energy Roadmap positions the development of power plants based on renewable energy sources, including solar and wind, as a strategic priority. However, the intermittent characteristics of renewable energy introduce new complexities to power system management.
To ensure the energy transition proceeds without compromising supply quality, PLN is preparing three main technological pillars: the implementation of Smart Grid, digitalisation of protection systems, and the development of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). These technologies enable more flexible absorption of renewable energy power while maintaining real-time voltage stability.
Senior Manager of System Operations at PLN’s Java-Madura-Bali Development and Network Business Unit (UIP2B) Elvanto Yanuar Ikhsan revealed that fluctuating frequency dynamics and the potential for reduced system inertia are primary concerns for grid operators.
“The complexity of the load in the Jamali system is increasing with the entry of variable New and Renewable Energy. The system must be ready to face variability and electrical stability,” said Elvanto, quoted from his statement on Tuesday, 5 May 2026.
To accelerate the renewable energy transition, PLN’s UIP2B Jamali held the “PLN Teaches” programme at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Indonesia (DTE FTUI).
The event, themed “The Impact of Operating New and Renewable Energy Power Plants on the Reliability of the Java, Madura, and Bali System,” is part of PLN’s efforts to speed up public understanding of the national energy transition towards net zero emissions by 2060.
Present as guest lecturers were Elvanto Yanuar Ikhsan, along with Manager of System Operations Analysis and Evaluation Suci Rositawati, and Assistant Manager of Application Data Management and Real-Time Operations Data Bilkis Mukhlisoti. The students gained direct technical insights into the challenges and strategies for integrating renewable energy in large-scale power systems.
The Jamali system currently records an energy mix with coal-fired plants (60.2%), gas (30.5%), renewable energy (8.4%), and others (0.9%), an initial portrait that is continuously being pushed to shift towards a larger renewable energy share. Compared to Thailand, which achieves 22.3% renewable energy, and Malaysia at 7%, Indonesia has significant room for acceleration alongside substantial technical challenges.
The PLN Teaches programme is a tangible manifestation of PLN’s commitment to building an ecosystem of human resources ready to guide the energy transition. Electrical Engineering students at UI are expected to become a generation of engineers who not only understand the technical aspects of renewable energy but are also capable of contributing to research and innovation to support national energy resilience.