SUN Energy, a renewable energy developer in Indonesia, says it is optimistic with renewable energy development in Indonesia, with great potential to expand the domestic market although the country is lagging behind Vietnam and Thailand in initiatives.
“We have had long discussions with regulators and (State power utility) PT PLN. With the issuance of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation No. 2/2024, the solar energy development system is now clearer, especially through the quota mechanism that has been in effect since July 2024,” SUN Energy’s Chief of Sales, Oky Gunawan, told a Media Gathering in Jakarta, on Friday, December 13, 2024.
He cited that the government has set an initial capacity of 900 megawatts and plans to add a new quota in January. This regulation provides clarity for developers and customers who want to implement new renewable energy.
As a developer that focuses on the commercial and industrial segments, SUN Energy has recorded significant achievements. As of November 2024, the company has completed projects with a total capacity of 175 megawatts in Indonesia, making it the largest developer in this segment.
“We are also the first local company to expand our business to the Asia Pacific region, such as Australia, Thailand, and Vietnam. In total, the capacity of the projects we handle has reached more than 330 megawatts,” Oky said.
SUN Energy welcomes collaboration with the government, including discussions with associations regarding quota mechanism and their management.
“The existing quota system needs to be disseminated more widely to increase public and developersunderstanding,” Oky said.
Meanwhile, Karina Darmawan, CEO of SUN Terra, a SUN Group business unit that focuses on developing solar power plants (PLTS) in the residential and commercial sectors, sees a great opportunity to maximize PLTS penetration in the commercial and residential sectors. Reflecting on ASEAN countries, such as Thailand, the commercial sector’s interest in utilizing solar power plants continues to grow due to significant energy savings.
“This year we have almost 1,000 residential customers, especially those from property developers. Next year, we are targeting more than 2-fold growth,” Karina said.
By the end of 2024, SUN Energy has achieved more than 180 MWp of solar power plant installations, including projects equipped with energy storage systems (ESS), which enable the availability of clean energy sustainably even when solar supply is limited.
Education on renewable energy
In addition to focusing on commercial development, SUN Energy is also committed to educating the public about renewable energy. Through the Green Future Summit held in three cities − Surabaya, Semarang, and Jakarta − SUN Energy expects to increase public awareness and understanding of the benefits of green energy.
“Two years ago, we held a festival to introduce renewable energy. Now, through the Green Future Summit, we are trying to provide more in-depth education,” Oky said.
