Solar Power Crowned New King of Energy; Researcher Says Indonesia Lags Behind

TEMPO.CO, Makassar - The Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) research coordinator Pamela Simamora said the use of new and renewable energy (EBT) continues to increase as solar power is crowned the new king in the world's energy sector.

Pamela made the statement in a virtual meeting on energy transition organized by IESR in collaboration with the Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists (SIEJ) on Sunday, September 19, 2021.

According to her, solar energy has greater potential to be developed in the future to replace fossil energy compared to other types of new and renewable energy, both globally and nationally.

While the use of renewable energy mix as the world’s primary electricity continued to expand, Indonesia’s solar energy growth was still sluggish.

Pamela said the world is ready to end the coal era, while Indonesia still depended on coal-fired power plants.

From the investment side on new renewable energy, Indonesia was also stagnant. “Reviewed from the investment value and the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), that of the solar and wind energy keeps declining, cheaper than energy from dirty materials,” Pamela explained.

Additionally, the price of solar energy in Indonesia has fallen drastically, causing solar and its batteries’ price to be more competitive.

Read: Pertamina Eyeing to Establish 5,000 Solar-powered Service Stations

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