Indonesia Ready For Green Energy

Jakarta (Antara) - Indonesia technologically is ready to move to green energy, Head of the Indonesian Technology Assessment and Application Agency (BPPT), Marzan Iskandar, said here on Wednesday. "Based on our technological capabilities we are ready. If the change happens approximately green energy could fulfill 25 percent of national energy needs in 2025," he said. In terms of business, however, he said, the target is hard to achieve. Therefore Indonesia should create a conducive investment climate for investors, promote technology development and provide incentives to speed it up. Iskandar believed minimum incentives had been one of the key factors that had made investors reluctant to be involved in the green energy sector. Starting this year however the government through the Energy and Mineral Resource Ministry (ESDM) began providing incentives. "Green energy potential in Indonesia is very large," Iskandar said. He explained Indonesia can produce 29,000 MW electricity from its geothermal energy source, 75,000 MW from hydro-power and up to 50,000 MW from solar, wind, and waste. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik said the government continued promoting the use of green energy sources through various regulations and policies. The government, he said, has also set the highest benchmark price for solar energy which is 25 cent USD for 25 years. The government expects the use of green energy to reach 25 percent of the national energy needs by 2025. (*)