Jakarta, September 11, 2025 – Solar energy is a democratic energy source that can be used by anyone, in various locations in Indonesia, for various purposes, and at various scales. Although the development of solar energy in Indonesia has experienced various dynamics and momentum, its capacity has slowly increased year after year.
One use of solar energy is solar-powered water pumps. Mustika Wijaya, Executive Director of Solar Chapter, a foundation focused on building clean water access through solar-powered water pumps in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), explained in the “Solar for All” session at the Indonesia Solar Summit (ISS) 2025 that her organization has helped 34 villages on the islands of Timor, Flores, and Sumbawa to build village-scale solar-powered water pumps. Maintenance and operation after construction is completed are unique challenges for infrastructure development projects within communities.
“We observe that villages/communities must have significant involvement and ownership from the beginning of a project. Villages that have significant contributions (co-ownership) of their projects have greater commitment than villages that receive grants,” said Mustika.
Communal efforts to accelerate solar energy adoption are also underway. The Central Java Provincial Government has experience encouraging the penetration of rooftop solar using non-fiscal incentives.
Eni Lestari, Head of the Infrastructure and Natural Resources Bureau of the Central Java Energy and Mineral Resources Agency, stated that Central Java has issued gubernatorial regulations, circular letters, and conducted education on solar energy.
“We are also making efforts to mainstream solar energy by designing social assistance (during the COVID-19 pandemic) in the form of rooftop solar for MSMEs and Islamic boarding schools. By installing these rooftop PVs, MSMEs and Islamic boarding schools can save on electricity bills, which will have a long-term impact,” Eni said.
Hening Parlan, Director of the 1000 Cahaya Muhammadiyah Program, agreed that public education and mainstreaming issues are crucial for encouraging individuals and communities to participate in the energy transition mission.
“It’s important to deliver the narrative in terms that resonate with the community. In our experience, the narrative of “energi surga (heavenly energy)” is easier for Muhammadiyah members to understand and accept than the term “renewable energy.” We also explain that the electricity we use today comes from mining processes, whose practices often harm the environment and are unfair to the people. From this understanding, the need for change is not only for cheaper electricity bills, but for a more fundamental ideology,” explained Hening.
Solar energy can also be a strategy to open electricity access to Indonesia’s outermost and frontier regions. Hasan Maksum, Sub-Coordinator for National Electricity Planning and Policy Preparation, Directorate General of Electricity, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, stated that the government’s strategy to electrify Indonesia’s outermost regions includes the development of mini-grids for areas far from the distribution network, the development of renewable energy generators in areas with dispersed populations, such as communal solar power plants (PLTS), to electrify un-electrified areas, and the expansion of the electricity network to areas close to operating or existing systems.
“For the Rural Electrification program, we (the Directorate General of Electricity) coordinate with local PLN units to ensure that the asset handover process, operations, and maintenance run smoothly, and that there are institutions supporting residents,” said Hasan.
The fourth edition of the Indonesia Solar Summit 2025 is organized by the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) in collaboration with the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, with support from Pertamina New & Renewable Energy, Tenggara Strategics, and the Indonesian Solar Energy Association (AESI).
