The Indonesian city of Batam has been designated a national pilot city for energy transition and energy conservation in the building sector, under the Sustainable Energy Transition in Indonesia (SETI) project.
The announcement was made during the SETI Project Kick-off event in Batam on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. The SETI project, a bilateral initiative between Indonesian and German governments, is supported by the Directorate General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), and implemented by a consortium comprising GIZ, IESR, WRI, and CERAH.
Running from 2023 to 2028, the project targets urban built environments − particularly government, commercial, and public buildings − to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption.
Sahid Junaidi, Secretary of the Directorate General of EBTKE, said that Batam, alongside Surabaya, was selected as a pilot city due to its strong human resource capacity, electricity consumption profile, renewable energy potential, ongoing sustainability initiatives, and high growth prospects.
“The selection of Batam is expected to enable sustainable development and economic growth to go hand-in-hand, transforming Batam into a modern, sustainable, and livable city,” Sahid said.
He emphasized that the SETI project focuses on decarbonizing the building sector through planning, strategy development, and pilot implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures.
“This pilot city initiative is a critical step in Indonesia’s journey toward a sustainable energy future, serving as a model for broader national policy-making,” he said.
Edison Siagian, Director of Regional Government Affairs Synchronization at the Ministry of Home Affairs, highlighted the importance of aligning development planning between central and local governments.
“Energy transition requires inclusive and sustainable synchronization from planning to monitoring,” he said.
Lisa Tinschert, Energy Program Director at GIZ, reaffirmed SETI’s commitment to supporting Batam with planning studies, technical assistance, capacity building, urban energy network engagement, and other agreed support mechanisms.
“SETI is ready to assist Batam in achieving energy sector decarbonization,” she said.
Jefridin Hamid, Batam City Secretary, emphasized the tangible economic and social benefits of the transition, including investment opportunities, green jobs, and improved energy access.
“We are honored to be the first city in Sumatra designated as a pilot for urban building sector decarbonization. We aim to lead by example,” he said.
SETI consortium data shows Batam has 269,864 buildings, with 91 percent being residential, 1percent social, and the remainder business and government properties. The support from SETI is expected to enhance the city’s ability to design and evaluate decarbonization programs across these sectors.
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