Electricity in Indonesia in 2022

As of 2022, Indonesia's electricity consumption is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with coal and gas making up the lion's share of the generation. The country generated around 268 TWh from fossil sources, with coal alone contributing more than 200 TWh, and gas adding another 56 TWh. On the low-carbon front, Indonesia produced roughly 65 TWh, with hydropower, biofuels, and geothermal splitting the share fairly evenly. Hydropower led the charge among low-carbon sources with approximately 27 TWh, while biofuels and geothermal each contributed around 20 TWh and 17 TWh, respectively. Compared to the global average of 432 watts per person, Indonesia's electricity consumption is noticeably lower. This disparity can potentially limit opportunities for economic growth and technological advancements, making it essential for the country to scale up its electricity generation, particularly from low-carbon sources.

Suggestions

To rapidly increase its low-carbon electricity generation, Indonesia can draw lessons from countries that have successfully expanded their clean energy portfolios. Wind and solar energy represent significant growth opportunities. For instance, China generated a staggering 886 TWh from wind and over 580 TWh from solar in 2022. India, a developing nation similar to Indonesia in some aspects, managed to produce 113 TWh from solar and 82 TWh from wind. Nuclear energy is another viable option, as demonstrated by the United States and France, which generated 775 TWh and 336 TWh, respectively. By investing in these technologies and learning from the infrastructure and policy frameworks of these successful nations, Indonesia can significantly bolster its low-carbon electricity production, helping to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and reducing air pollution.

History

The history of low-carbon electricity in Indonesia shows a pattern of fluctuating growth, particularly in hydropower, with occasional notable increases in other sources like biofuels and geothermal energy. In the early 1980s, there were minor declines in hydro generation, but the latter half of the 1990s saw a surge, particularly a 4.5 TWh increase in 1998. The years following the turn of the century showed further consolidation in hydro with multiple years of gains, such as a 6.1 TWh increase in 2010, though occasional declines persisted. Starting in 2017, geothermal energy showed progress with a 2.1 TWh increase, and biofuels saw a dramatic rise in 2018 with a 12.7 TWh uptick. The trend continued positively in 2021 and 2022 with biofuels and hydro both contributing to increased low-carbon electricity generation. These historical trends indicate a strong foundation upon which Indonesia can build a more robust and sustainable electricity grid.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources