Indonesia identifies land for 100 GW solar expansion plan
Indonesia has identified 24,000 hectares of land on Java Island for a planned 100 GW solar power expansion programme estimated to require investments of around USD 71.3 billion, according to a report by the Indonesian News Agency.
The land identification exercise is being led jointly by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning. As part of the broader initiative, the government plans to prioritise the development of 17 GW of solar capacity in the initial phase, alongside approximately 33 GW of battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Yuliot Tanjung said the government will focus first on accelerating 17 GW of solar power capacity under the larger 100 GW programme.
The initiative forms part of Indonesia’s strategy to achieve a fully renewable energy mix by 2035 and reach net-zero emissions by 2060 or earlier. First announced in 2025, the plan envisages 80 GW of distributed solar installations and 20 GW of utility-scale solar projects aimed at reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels.
President Prabowo Subianto has set a target of adding 100 GW of solar capacity between 2026 and 2028. The goal represents a substantial scale-up from Indonesia’s current installed solar capacity of about 1.5 GW.
The Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) has welcomed the government’s ambition but noted that achieving the target will require immediate implementation measures. The organisation has called for a focus on short-term project delivery to strengthen investor confidence and public support.
Among its recommendations, IESR has urged faster replacement of diesel-based generation, citing plans by state-owned utility PLN to reduce diesel power generation by 80% by 2030. It also recommended bundling smaller regional projects into larger investment opportunities to improve project viability.
The institute further advocated stronger incentives for rooftop solar adoption and battery storage deployment among residential and commercial consumers. It also called for greater participation by village cooperatives and village-owned enterprises in expanding clean energy access in rural areas.
To support implementation, IESR has proposed the creation of a national solar task force and the preparation of a five-year roadmap to coordinate project development and policy execution.
Separately, PLN recently launched a tender for the 1,225 MW Mentari Nusantara I solar power project. The project will be developed across multiple regions, including Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, and Maluku & Papua. The procurement process commenced on April 30 under the “Giga One” integrated tender scheme, with commercial operations targeted for 2029.
The featured photograph is for representation only.
