PLTS for Indonesia’s Clean Energy Transition: A Narrative Review of Environmental Benefits and Implementation Readiness
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59247/ijase.v4i1.158Keywords:
Solar PV, Photovoltaic Power Plants, Clean Energy Transition, Environment Change, IndonesiaAbstract
Indonesia faces two main challenges: increasing energy demand and the increasingly visible impacts of environmental change related to greenhouse gas emissions, land-use pressure, and climate risk. Previous PLTS studies in Indonesia mainly discuss technical feasibility, rooftop adoption, economics, policy, or grid issues separately. Fewer reviews explain why PLTS should be prioritized as a climate-mitigation option and why it is especially suitable for Indonesia. This paper addresses that gap through a document-based narrative review of climate reports, emission statistics, PLTS studies, policy literature, adoption studies, and environmental-impact evidence. The novelty is a climate-centered PLTS suitability argument for Indonesia. By synthesizing 43 references across five analytical dimensions, this review identifies five reasons why PLTS deserves priority: high solar-resource potential, modular deployment on roofs and reservoirs, compatibility with daytime public-building and cooling loads, scalability from household to utility-scale systems, and measurable avoided emissions when solar generation replaces fossil-based electricity. The review finds that PLTS can support climate-change mitigation, but its benefits depend on realistic site assessment, grid compatibility, storage evaluation, monitoring, public acceptance, maintenance readiness, and lifecycle management. This article contributes practical guide for the energy transition to cleaner energy and is suitable for Indonesia as an archipelagic country located in the equatorial region.
References
H. Lee et al., Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the IPCC. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Geneva, Switzerland, 2023, https://doi.org/10.59327/IPCC/AR6-9789291691647.
S. F. Kennedy, “Indonesia’s energy transition and its contradictions: Emerging geographies of energy and finance,” Energy Res. Soc. Sci., vol. 41, pp. 230–237, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.04.023.
B. P. Statistik, “Emisi Gas Rumah Kaca menurut Jenis Sektor (ribu ton CO2e), 2000-2023,” Badan Pusat Statistik, 2026, https://www.bps.go.id/assets/statistics-table/1/MjA3MiMx/emisi-gas-rumah-kaca-menurut-jenis-sektor--ribu-ton-co2e---2000-2023.html.
K. ESDM, “Indonesia to Invest More in Solar Energy,” Kementerian ESDM, 2021, https://www.esdm.go.id/en/media-center/news-archives/indonesia-to-invest-more-in-solar-energy.
N. A. Pambudi, “Renewable energy in Indonesia: Current status, potential, and future development,” Sustainability, vol. 15, no. 3, p. 2342, 2023, https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032342.
A. Tampubolon, D. Kurniawan, D. Arinaldo, H. D. Puspitarini, H. Damayanti, and I. Marciano, “Beyond 207 Gigawatts: Unleashing Indonesia’s Solar Potential,” Institute for Essential Services Reform, 2021, https://iesr.or.id/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Unleashing-Indonesias-Solar-Potential-Technical-Note-FINAL1.pdf.
A. J. Veldhuis and A. H. M. E. Reinders, “Reviewing the potential and cost-effectiveness of grid-connected solar PV in Indonesia on a provincial level,” Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., vol. 27, pp. 315–324, 2013, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.06.010.
L. M. Putranto, T. Widodo, H. Indrawan, M. A. Imron, and S. A. Rosyadi, “Grid parity analysis: The present state of PV rooftop in Indonesia,” Renew. Energy Focus, vol. 40, pp. 23–38, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ref.2021.11.002.
Y. Tanoto, “Cost-reliability trade-offs for grid-connected rooftop PV in emerging economies: A case of Indonesia’s urban residential households,” Energy, vol. 285, p. 129388, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.129388.
H. T. Paradongan et al., “Techno-economic feasibility study of solar photovoltaic power plant using RETScreen to achieve Indonesia energy transition,” Heliyon, vol. 10, no. 7, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27680.
M. Rifansyah and D. F. Hakam, “Techno economic study of floating solar photovoltaic project in Indonesia using RETScreen,” Clean. Energy Syst., vol. 9, p. 100155, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cles.2024.100155.
O. Bamisile, C. Acen, D. Cai, Q. Huang, and I. Staffell, “The environmental factors affecting solar photovoltaic output,” Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., vol. 208, p. 115073, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2024.115073.
J. S. Adiansyah, D. B. Agusdinata, and A. P. Putra, “Environmental impacts of solar PV energy systems for small-island communities in Indonesia: A life cycle assessment approach,” Energy Sustain. Dev., vol. 85, p. 101651, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2025.101651.
A. Hidayatno, A. D. Setiawan, I. M. Wikananda Supartha, A. O. Moeis, I. Rahman, and E. Widiono, “Investigating policies on improving household rooftop photovoltaics adoption in Indonesia,” Renew. Energy, vol. 156, pp. 731–742, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.04.106.
D. Setyawati, “Analysis of perceptions towards the rooftop photovoltaic solar system policy in Indonesia,” Energy Policy, vol. 144, p. 111569, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111569.
H. S. Fathoni, R. Boer, and Sulistiyanti, “Battle over the sun: Resistance, tension, and divergence in enabling rooftop solar adoption in Indonesia,” Glob. Environ. Chang., vol. 71, p. 102371, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102371.
Y. P. Mulyani, “Analyzing public discourse on photovoltaic (PV) adoption in Indonesia: A topic-based sentiment analysis of news articles and social media,” J. Clean. Prod., vol. 434, p. 140233, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.140233.
N. Kurniawan, S. Soeprijanto, and R. Nadlifatin, “A multidimensional behavioral approach to solar photovoltaics adoption: Insights for advancing sustainable energy transition in commercial contexts,” J. Open Innov. Technol. Mark. Complex., 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2025.100589.
A. Amiruddin, A. Liebman, R. Dargaville, and R. Gawler, “Optimal energy storage configuration to support 100% renewable energy for Indonesia,” Energy Sustain. Dev., vol. 81, p. 101509, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2024.101509.
M. Ali, Y. Guan, J. C. Vasquez, J. M. Guerrero, F. D. Wijaya, and A. P. Perdana, “Grid code requirements for the integration of renewable energy sources in Indonesia-a review,” Renew. Energy Focus, vol. 56, p. 100782, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ref.2025.100782.
P. M. Dauenhauer, D. Frame, A. Eales, S. Strachan, S. Galloway, and H. Buckland, “Sustainability evaluation of community-based, solar photovoltaic projects in Malawi,” Energy. Sustain. Soc., vol. 10, no. 1, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-020-0241-0.
E. Nur ’Aini, B. Setiawan, and R. Budiarto, “Design of Sustainability of Solar Panel Integration in A Green Building Complex of Wonogiri Regent Office,” IOP Conf. Ser. Earth Environ. Sci., vol. 738, no. 1, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/738/1/012010.
Y. I. Siregar, “Pathways towards net-zero emissions in Indonesia’s energy sector,” Energy, vol. 308, p. 133014, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.133014.
A. Massagony, R. Pandit, and B. White, "Political economy of energy policy in Indonesia towards net zero emissions by 2060," Energy for Sustainable Development, vol. 88, p. 101757, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2025.101757.
S. Zhong, B. Su, J. He, and T. S. Ng, “Moving towards a net-zero emissions economy in Indonesia,” Sci. Total Environ., vol. 1001, p. 180542, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180542.
I. Fitriana, Hadiyanto, B. Warsito, E. Hilmawan, J. Santosa, and A. Sugiyono, “The role of renewable energy to achieve net zero emissions: A cost-benefit analysis of Indonesia’s power sector transition,” Results Eng., vol. 29, p. 108526, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2025.108526.
F. A. R. Afifi, A. Halimatussadiah, R. Kurniawan, and D. Nainggolan, “Household preferences for rooftop solar photovoltaic systems: Evidence from a survey-based study in five Indonesian cities,” Energy Sustain. Dev., vol. 88, p. 101771, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2025.101771.
M. D. Afriani and S. Poletti, “Evaluating renewable energy pathways and emissions targets in Indonesia: An OSeMOSYS-based economic and sensitivity analysis of PLN,” Energy Policy, vol. 211, p. 115095, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2026.115093.
N. Reyseliani, Y. P. Pratama, A. Hidayatno, N. Mac Dowell, and W. W. Purwanto, "Power sector decarbonisation in developing and coal-producing countries: A case study of Indonesia," Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 454, p. 142202, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142202.
A. Gulagi et al., “Accelerating the transition from coal to renewables in Indonesia to achieve a net-zero energy system,” IET Renewable Power Generation, vol. 19, no. 1, p. e13188, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1049/rpg2.13188.
H. Wibisono, J. Lovett, M. S. Chairani, and S. Suryani, “The ideational impacts of Indonesia’s renewable energy project failures,” Energy for Sustainable Development, vol. 83, p. 101587, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2024.101587.
R. Muthia, A. S. P. Pramudya, M. R. Maulana, and W. W. Purwanto, "Techno–economic analysis of green hydrogen production by a floating solar photovoltaic system for industrial decarbonization," Clean Energy, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 1-14, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/ce/zkae032.
D. Rudolph, M. Maulidia, and H. Busyrah, “Solar-water nexus: On local implications of the procurement and deployment of the first floating solar photovoltaics project in Indonesia,” Sustainability Science, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 1393-1406, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-025-01637-3.
S. Adiguna, A. N. Afandi, and M. C. Bagaskoro, "Techno-economic modeling and analysis of a PV EV charged with battery energy storage system (BESS) on Kalimantan Island," Global Energy Interconnection, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 225-239, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloei.2025.01.003.
S. P. H. Hutabarat, "Subsidizing solar energy in Indonesia: Evaluating the fossil fuel depletion premium as a revenue-neutral policy tool," Utilities Policy, vol. 97, p. 102064, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jup.2025.102064.
N. Eliva, R. Nurcahyo, M. Habiburrahman, and B. Lianto, "Consumers’ Intention on Rooftop PV Adoption to Promote Renewable Energy using Extended UTAUT Model in Indonesia," International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management, vol. 47, pp. 90-103, 2025, https://doi.org/10.54337/ijsepm.9992.
P. T. P. L. N. N. Renewables, “Cirata Floating PV (145 MWac / 192 MWp),” PT PLN Nusantara Renewables, 2024, https://ptplnnr.com/esg/project/detail/cirata-floating-pv.
P. T. P. L. N. N. Power, “PLN Nusantara Power Accelerates Green Power Development, Cirata Floating Solar PV Marks a Milestone in Large-Scale Floating Solar Expansion,” PT PLN Nusantara Power, 2025, https://www.plnnusantarapower.co.id/media-relation/press-release/pln-nusantara-power-akselerasi-pembangkit-hijau-plts-terapung-cirata-jadi-tonggak-pengembangan-plts-terapung-skala-besar.
A. I. Ramadhan, E. Diniardi, and S. H. Mukti, "Analisis Desain Sistem Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Surya Kapasitas 50 WP," TEKNIK, vol. 37, no. 2, pp. 59-63, Dec. 2016, https://doi.org/10.14710/teknik.v37i2.9011.
M. E. M. R. Indonesia, “Regulation of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Number 2 of 2024 concerning Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Power Plants Connected to the Electricity Networks of Holders of Electricity Supply Business Licenses for Public Interest,” Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, 2024, https://setkab.go.id/en/govt-issues-new-rooftop-solar-power-plant-regulation/.
L. Govindarajan, M. F. B. M. Batcha, and M. K. B. Abdullah, "Solar energy policies in southeast Asia towards low carbon emission: A review," Heliyon, vol. 9, no. 3, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14294.
A. Raihan, M. I. Pavel, D. A. Muhtasim, S. Farhana, O. Faruk, and A. Paul, "The role of renewable energy use, technological innovation, and forest cover toward green development: Evidence from Indonesia," Innovation and Green Development, vol. 2, no. 1, p. 100035, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.igd.2023.100035.
H. Berchmans, S. Suaib, I. Agustina, R. Panjaitan, and Winne, "Panduan Penghematan Energi di Gedung Pemerintah," USAID Indonesia Clean Energy Development (ICED Project), 2014, https://www.scribd.com/doc/298834196/Panduan-Penghematan-Energi-Di-Gedung-Pemerintah.