Indonesia explores solar power installations along Trans-Java Expressway for renewable energy expansion

Indonesia explores solar power installations along Trans-Java Expressway for renewable energy expansion

Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has launched a feasibility study to evaluate solar power installations along the Trans-Java Expressway, marking a significant expansion of the country's 100-gigawatt solar energy initiative.

The assessment, set to begin this year, will determine how much solar capacity can be installed along the 1,167-kilometer expressway, which stretches from Merak in Banten to Banyuwangi in East Java, connecting major cities including Jakarta, Cirebon, Semarang, Solo, and Surabaya.

Acting Director General of Electricity at the ministry, Tri Winarno, confirmed the project during a media briefing at the ministry's Jakarta office on Thursday. The government plans to use the Bali Mandara Toll Road solar installation as a reference model. That project features a 400 kilowatt-peak capacity system with panels installed at six points spanning six kilometers along motorcycle lanes at three toll gates.

Wind patterns along the expressway will be a critical factor in the study, as strong winds could affect solar panel placement and positioning. These technical considerations must be resolved before the government proceeds with implementation, Tri explained.

Accelerated timeline amid energy security concerns

The ministry expects to begin implementing the expressway solar project in 2027 after completing the assessment. The initiative comes as Indonesia accelerates its renewable energy transition following widespread rolling blackouts in May 2026 caused by severe coal supply shortages. The energy crisis prompted the government to compress the original five-year timeline for the 100 GW solar program to three years.

The 100 GW solar program comprises two main components: 80 GW of decentralized 1 MW solar mini-grids with battery storage to be deployed across 80,000 villages, and 20 GW of centralized solar power plants. Energy sector analysis estimates the total investment required ranges between $140 billion and $210 billion, with a priority first phase estimated at $78 billion.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced that President Prabowo Subianto will inaugurate the program's first phase in Bali. The initiative has been incorporated into the revised 2025-2034 Electricity Supply Business Plan of state-owned utility PT PLN, which targets adding 69.5 GW of power generation capacity by 2034, with approximately 76 percent coming from renewable sources.

Economic impact and land allocation

The ministry projects the program could reduce energy imports through import substitution worth between $14.4 billion and $28.9 billion, while contributing up to $26.6 billion to Indonesia's gross domestic product.

Indonesia has identified around 28,000 hectares of land on Java for renewable energy development. Approximately 8,500 hectares have been allocated for ground-mounted solar farms with an estimated capacity of 8.5 gigawatt-peak, while around 10,000 hectares of state-owned reservoirs are designated for floating solar installations expected to generate up to 10 GWp.

The country's renewable energy capacity currently stands at approximately 16.32 GW as of June 2026, with renewable sources achieving 17.89 percent of the national power generation mix as of April 2026, exceeding the government's 2026 target of 16.46 percent.

The 2025-2034 electricity plan opens investment opportunities worth approximately 2,967.4 trillion rupiah (around $186 billion), with about 73 percent of planned capacity to be developed through private sector partnerships under the Independent Power Producer scheme.