The Indonesian energy sector is ready for a technological revolution following the 2024 elections. The massive potential for renewable energy and green technology advancements has been around for a long time, waiting for the right moment to take off. The energy sector is a big business in the global market, the reason why the green energy initiator needs to continue its progression despite un favoured by global energy players that capitalised on massive centralized production like coal, oil and gas.
This transition is centred around the adoption of green technologies to support the country’s sustainable growing energy needs. This article explores the key value of technological advancements expected to shape Indonesia’s energy landscape. Whoever wins the election, will realize this potential is precious to be missed.
Solar, Wind Potential and Geothermal Exploration
Indonesia is expected to make significant strides in solar technology. Innovations in photovoltaic cells, such as bifacial solar panels and floating solar farms, are likely to be adopted, especially in regions with high solar irradiance. These advancements will increase the efficiency and feasibility of solar energy projects.
Wind energy, particularly offshore wind farms, is set to receive a technological boost. Areas like the west coast of Sumatera, the south region of Java and the coast of the Islands a potential areas to explore. This bold move will stimulate the advancement in turbine design, higher capacity generators, and floating wind technologies will enable Indonesia to harness wind resources more effectively, especially in coastal areas.
Indonesia’s position on the Pacific Ring of Fire also presents a unique opportunity for geothermal energy. Technological advancements in geothermal drilling and exploration are expected to unlock new geothermal fields, increasing the country’s geothermal capacity.
These potentials also need to be supported with good research policy and connected with academic ecosystems, universities and educational institutions. The introduction and familiarization of green energy and technology need to be started earlier at every level of compulsory education.
Electric Vehicle, Smart Grid Integration and Energy Storage Solutions
With the global shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), Indonesia is likely to focus on EV infrastructure. The progress of battery industries is an early start towards this progress. This includes the development of fast-charging stations and battery swap technologies, which will not only reduce carbon emissions but also create a new electricity demand.
The integration of renewable energy sources will necessitate the development of smart grid technologies. Advanced metering infrastructure, smart grid automation, and energy management systems will play crucial roles in efficiently managing energy distribution and addressing the intermittency of renewable sources.
Advancements in energy storage technologies, such as lithium-ion batteries, flow batteries, and pumped hydro storage, are critical for stabilizing the grid. These technologies will help in balancing supply and demand, ensuring a constant energy supply despite the variable nature of renewable sources. Further research on fuel Cell and Hydrogen technology will be a significant key value to these advanced processes.
Waste-to-Energy Technologies and Carbon Capture
Indonesia is expected to explore waste-to-energy technologies as part of its green technology initiative. Innovations in this sector can transform urban waste management, reducing landfill use and generating energy from municipal waste. Conventional waste management needs to be improved before the waste becomes a huge problem in urban society in many cities in Indonesia. Many newly developed cities struggle to process this waste. The hoarding just becomes a bigger and bigger issue each day without a significant leap in how to deplete it.
The increasing pollution also become a new challenge in dense city populations such as Jakarta. The nearby location of heavy industries and fossil energy plantations is no longer suitable for regional development. Even though it is likely impossible to move out of these industries to other locations, carbon capture technology needs to be introduced immediately to assist this issue. These technological advancements will help the urban development growth of Jakarta’s megacity which now has more than 10 million populations.
Integration of waste-to-energy technology is also demanded to decrease water and soil pollution due to the huge amount of waste restrained for long periods. The biogas generated by the waste chemical processes can be managed intensively in wastewater treatment plants like already implemented in Palm Oil industries. These approaches in the long run will help to decrease waste and water pollution simultaneously an alternative for energy generation.
The technological advancements in Indonesia’s energy sector post-2024 elections represent a significant shift towards green technology. These developments, spanning solar, wind, geothermal, smart grids, energy storage, EVs, and waste-to-energy, are integral to Indonesia’s commitment to sustainable and resilient energy. While these advancements promise a greener future, their successful implementation will depend on coordinated efforts between the government, industry, and academic communities.
References
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