Indonesia’s Vast Solar Energy Potential

David Firnando Silalahi, Andrew Blakers, Matthew Stocks, Bin Lu, Cheng Cheng and Liam Hayes
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David Firnando Silalahi: School of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia
Andrew Blakers: School of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia
Matthew Stocks: School of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia
Bin Lu: School of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia
Cheng Cheng: School of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia
Liam Hayes: School of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 17, 1-24

Abstract: In this paper, we conclude that Indonesia has vast potential for generating and balancing solar photovoltaic (PV) energy to meet future energy needs at a competitive cost. We systematically analyse renewable energy potential in Indonesia. Solar PV is identified to be an energy source whose technical, environmental and economic potential far exceeds Indonesia’s present and future energy requirements and is far larger than all other renewable energy resources combined. We estimate that electricity consumption in Indonesia could reach 9000 terawatt-hours per year by 2050, which is 30 times larger than at present. Indonesia has abundant space to deploy enough solar to meet this requirement, including on rooftops, inland reservoirs, mining wasteland, and in combination with agriculture. Importantly, Indonesia has a vast maritime area that almost never experiences strong winds or large waves that could host floating solar capable of generating >200,000 terawatt-hours per year. Indonesia also has far more off-river pumped hydro energy storage potential than required for balancing solar generation.

Keywords: Indonesia’s solar potential; ground-mounted PV; mining wasteland PV; floating PV; agrophotovoltaic; urban rooftop PV (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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