Indonesia's renewable energy mix gains pace, beats 2026 target

Jakarta (ANTARA) - For the first time in recent years, Indonesia's renewable energy achievements do not need to wait until the end of the year to meet their target.

As of April 2026, the contribution of new and renewable energy to the national power generation mix has reached 17.89 percent, equivalent to an electricity production of 29.62 terawatt-hours (TWh).

This figure is higher than the previous year's achievement and, at the same time, has surpassed the government-set target for the entirety of 2026, which is 16.46 percent.

Looking at the trajectory over recent years, this shift is striking.

The national renewable energy mix stood at 14.65 percent in 2024, rising to 15.75 percent in 2025, a gain of roughly one percentage point over a full year. In just the first four months of 2026, by contrast, the contribution jumped by more than two percentage points.

This difference in speed signals a real shift in the pace of Indonesia's energy transition. One key driver is a wave of projects, long stuck in planning or construction, that have finally come online and begun operating at full capacity.

A number of hydroelectric power plants (PLTA) that are part of national strategic electricity projects have begun entering the system. At the same time, programs to phase out diesel-fired power plants have been accelerated compared to previous years.

Moreover, in the 2025-2034 PLN Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL), the share of renewable energy is given significantly more room than in previous periods.

Of the total power plant capacity additions planned for the next decade, approximately 76 percent will come from renewable energy sources.

Clean energy in Indonesia is no longer viewed merely as a supplement to the national power system. It is now starting to emerge as the primary driver of new electricity capacity growth.

Within one year since the RUPTL was published, nearly half of the planned renewable energy development share has entered the execution phase.

On the Sumatra island, the renewable energy mix has reached 41.76 percent of total electricity production. In other words, more than four out of every ten units of electricity generated in Sumatra come from clean energy sources.

Sumatra has long possessed a combination of resources difficult for other regions to match, ranging from geothermal potential and hydropower to biomass.

Hydropower remains the backbone of Indonesia's renewable energy sector nationally, with its large generating capacity keeping it well ahead of other green energy sources.

Biomass and geothermal follow close behind, having served for years as key pillars in reducing the country's reliance on fossil fuels.

Solar power plants

However, the energy source showing the most interesting growth actually comes from solar power.

The contribution of solar power plants (PLTS) to the overall national mix remains relatively small. Nonetheless, its growth rate is the fastest among various other types of renewable energy.

The decline in the price of solar panels in recent years has made investment in solar power plants more economical, for both household and industrial scales.

Rooftop solar programs, now expanding across the country, are also beginning to make their mark. While not yet significant enough to reshape the national energy mix, this growth signals that solar power will play an increasingly important role over the coming decade.

Developments through early 2026 suggest that the targets set out in government planning documents are gaining firmer footing.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources' (ESDM) 2025-2029 Strategic Plan targets renewables to make up 17-21 percent of the national energy mix by 2026.

With realization already at 17.89 percent as of April, Indonesia has entered this target range well ahead of schedule. It's too early to call year-end success, but the trajectory is far clearer now than it was a few years ago when these targets often seemed out of reach.

This progress is also drawing growing interest from foreign investors, particularly in the geothermal sector. Indonesia holds one of the world's largest geothermal reserves, yet most of that potential remains untapped.

For investors, this presents substantial room for growth. For the government, fresh capital inflows can help accelerate clean energy infrastructure development without relying entirely on the state budget.

Various incentives for renewable energy projects are also designed to attract investment while creating new jobs.

Even so, the challenges of the energy transition have not disappeared. Investment needs remain high, transmission grid development must keep pace with new power plants, and reliance on coal cannot be phased out overnight.

For the first time in recent years, however, renewable energy discussions are not solely centered on unmet targets or delayed projects.

Several large-scale hydroelectric and solar projects nearing completion could further boost renewables' share by year-end. If this pace holds, 2026 could become one of the most pivotal years yet in Indonesia's energy transition.

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Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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