Indonesia is committed to replacing its old coal-fired power plants with renewable sources of energy, according to Arifin Tasrif, Indonesia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Minister.
Indonesia will replace those coal-fired power plants which were established more than 20 years ago. According to media reports, Indonesia may replace a total of 69 units of coal-fired power plants and coal gas-fired power plants with renewable energy sources.
The minister pointed out that the state electricity utility company is taking inventory of those plants which are to be replaced. He further revealed that these plants, which are to be replaced with renewable energy sources in Indonesia, could have a combined power capacity of over 11,000 megawatts.
Currently, Indonesia produces around 60 percent of its energy needs from coal. Reportedly, Indonesia’s government is committed to generating more energy from renewable energy sources such as solar, geothermal and hydropower.
Arifin Tasrif revealed that the government increased the target of renewable energy usage to 13.4 percent this year from 12.5 percent in the previous year. Similarly, the composition will be further increased in the coming years.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy group Masdar is set to build Indonesia’s first floating solar power plant. The project is expected to be the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.
Masdar has signed a power purchase agreement with Indonesian state electricity company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) to build the planned 145 megawatt floating PV plant, to be built on the Cirata Reservoir in West Java. Indonesia.
According to reports, the provinces of West Nusa Tenggara and North Sumatra in Indonesia have begun operating four renewable energy power plants with a combined production capacity of 11.8 megawatts.
East Nusa Tenggara province also launched the 5MW Sambelia solar power plant in Lombok in December 2019.