Indonesia signals start of 100 GW solar initiative

Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, has said the first phase of a 100 GW solar power project will begin in the near future.

Speaking to press earlier this week, Lahadalia said the first phase of the project has been approved for implementation and will soon enter construction with the launch of the first groundbreaking ceremony.

Indonesia’s plan to deploy 100 GW of solar was first announced in August 2025. The initiative is targeting the installation of 80 GW of decentralized, small-scale solar systems with accompanying battery energy storage systems to be deployed across 80,000 villages, alongside 20 GW of centralized solar.

In a statement sent to pv magazine, Fabby Tumiwa, Chief Executive Officer of the Jakarta-based the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), said the think tank welcomes the step forward in advancing the 100 GW development plan.

Tumiwa called on the government to position the initiative within a comprehensive and just transformation of Indonesia’s energy system, with the country’s existing Village Electrification Program, known as Lisdes, serving as an integral component.

The Lisdes program is a government initiative bringing reliable electricity to remote, disadvantaged and outermost regions of Indonesia. According to Lahadalia’s update earlier this week, the program has already reached more than 1,400 villages across Indonesia from around 11,000 without electricity.

“Village electrification should no longer be viewed merely as a means of improving electrification ratio statistics. Instead, it should aim to provide reliable and adequate energy access for all Indonesians while fostering the productive use of energy to stimulate local economic development,” Tumiwa said.

“By integrating the Village Electrification Program into the 100 GW Solar Program based on local renewable energy potential, the government will not only pursue solar generation capacity targets but also promote rural economic growth, accelerate energy democratization, and deliver a just energy transition that reaches even the most remote communities across the Indonesian archipelago.”

Earlier this year, IESR released a report exploring how Indonesia can mobilize its 100 GW solar target. It found reaching the goal will require an estimated $140-210 billion through the first phase investment as it called for support from financial institutions, green financing mechanisms and the private sector. It also warned against trying to adopt a one-size-fits all approach to electrifying the 80,000 villages.

Indonesia surpassed 1 GW of solar capacity in 2025, with total capacity reaching 1.49 GW.